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Kaba buys Canadian access control firm
Keyscan joins Swiss giant to help round out the company’s product portfolio p. 6
Big sky thinking for Cloud-based security
Is the technology with so much promise catching on with dealers and users? p. 20
Q&A with Bosch’s new president of sales
PM# 40065710
Ingram Micro vet Brian Wiser is ready for a new challenge p. 26
Chasing interoperability Standards bodies have been claiming for years that they’re making security products easier to integrate, but are the right people listening? By Linda Johnson
W
hen integrator Rob Quinn refers to compatibility standards as the Holy Grail of the security industry, he captures two truths. First, making installations easier and less frustrating is a much sought-after goal. Second, the goal often seems far off. “I think in the future, standards will make installs easier. It’s a possibility in the future,” says Quinn, president of Torontobased Quinn Digital Asset Protection. “But
at this point, I haven’t seen a huge change.” The several organizations created to develop and promote compatible specifications see the situation more positively, of course. And today, by going into new areas and expanding their range of conformant products and services, they expect their interoperability standards will — in the not-sodistant future — become a more integral, and really useful, component of daily security operations. Per Björkdahl, chairman of the steering committee of ONVIF (open network Continued on p.18
p.22
Product Previews The latest in security technology
p.24
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Contents November/December2014
www.sptnews.ca www.sptnews.ca Departments
Cover Story
4 Editor’s Letter 6 Line Card 26 Q&A
18 The standard bearers
ONVIF, PSIA, integrators and others reflect on how successful the push towards interoperability has been and what still needs to be done
Brian Wiser, president of sales, North America, Bosch Security Systems
Columns 14 CANASA Update
Looking for an alarm bylaw?
By Linda Johnson
By JF Champagne
14 People Skills
Maximizing candidate engagement
By Laurie Cooper
Features
16 Lessons Learned
Anatomy of an alarm deal (Part 2)
20 Looking for the silver lining
By Victor Harding
Cloud-based systems could potentially revolutionize how security systems are deployed and managed but are they finding a market?
16 Camera Corner
A good look at remote monitoring
By Colin Bodbyl
By Tristan Bronca
23
24 Omnidirectional cameras
Card reader The new AXIS A4011-E Reader is a joint co-operation between Axis Communications and ASSA ABLOY and is designed to work with AXIS A1001 Network Door Controller.
Samsung’s SNF-8010 and SNF-8010VM fisheye cameras are omnidirectional cameras that offer five megapixel definition with digital pan/tilt/zoom, intelligent video analytics and on-board SDXC storage up to 64GB.
visit us online
www.sptnews.ca
Integrator Roundtable: Hiring new talent It’s new school vs. old school in terms of the potential job applicants. Do new graduates have what it takes to work in today’s security market?
Looking for the latest IP camera? What about a new managed access control system? Find these products and more at our online buyer’s guide www.securitypages.ca
www.sptnews.ca/videos
Follow us on
@ www.twitter.com/SecurityEd
Security Integrator of the Year Habtech wins Integrator of the Year, sponsored by Anixter Canada, based on an approach that emphasized up-front planning and strong partnerships.
www.sptnews.ca/videos @SecurityEd • November/December 2014 3
EDITOR’S LETTER
By Neil Sutton
Developers welcome
Your Partner in Securing Canada
Samsung opens up to third parties with its Open Platform Initiative
I
careful about the types of apps they make available, for both security and operational reasons. It’s been said that today’s cameras are essentially just mini computers with lens attached, so it makes sense to capitalize on their compute power. And Samsung certainly isn’t the first to tout a third-party developer kit. Axis Communications, for example, introduced its Camera Application Platform in 2009 and partnered with a Boston university last year to encourage students to create compatible software for its cameras. Initiatives such as these are an effective way to help the industry move ahead, both by providing security users with a range of new and potentially innovative software solutions and by helping to draw new blood into the development pool. If the security establishment can offer intriguing development opportunities for smaller companies with fresh ideas, then ultimately everyone will benefit. The test, of course, will be to check in this time next year to see how many apps Samsung has made available on its website, but every new project has to start somewhere. A smartphone wouldn’t be a smartphone without apps. Some day the same may be said of camera technology.
P camera manufacturers have known for quite some time that they need to play well with other security technology providers in order to maximize their installed base. It’s refreshing, however, to see one step up and put some faith in a developer platform. Samsung promoted its Open Platform Initiative at the most recent ASIS International conference held in Atlanta, Ga. The platform makes it possible “for 3rd-party companies using standardized APIs to develop applications and install them on Samsung’s WiseNet III cameras,” according to the company’s press materials. “This gives users the freedom to deploy their ideal combination of edge applications.” At launch, there were three apps touted, addressing LPR, video analytics and direct-to-storage video transfer — currently only two of which are available from the Samsung website. It’s not an overwhelming selection, but it’s a compelling start. Future additions could include people counting, intrusion detection, facial recognition, as well as cargo and transit recognition, according to the company. I also think it’s prudent to begin a project like this on fairly minimal basis to give people an opportunity to get used to the idea that cameras can be a viable medium for apps and also to manage quality control; Samsung will have to be
“Initiatives such as these are an effective way to help the industry move ahead.”
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Security Products & Technology News is published 8 times in 2014 by Annex Business Media. Its primary purpose is to serve as an information resource to installers, resellers and integrators working within the security and/or related industries. Editorial information is reported in a concise, accurate and unbiased manner on security products, systems and services, as well as on product areas related to the security industry. Feature articles and all other types of newsworthy submissions should be forwarded to the Editor for consideration via mail, e-mail or fax (all listed below). These should be written to reflect the interests of professionals serving the Canadian protection industry.
Group Publisher, Paul Grossinger pgrossinger@annexweb.com Publisher, Peter Young pyoung@annexweb.com Editor, Neil Sutton nsutton@annexweb.com Online Editor, Rob Colman rcolman@annexweb.com Art Director, Graham Jeffrey gjeffrey@annexweb.com Account Coordinator,Trish Ramsay tramsay@annexweb.com President, Mike Fredericks mfredericks@annexweb.com
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@SecurityEd
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Nothing happened today In a perfect world, no one thinks about access control except you. The hundreds of people coming and going don’t think about you, or what a good job you’re doing, or how they always manage to get seamlessly where they need to go. Because you chose Synergis access control, it was another great day.
LINE CARD
Security Stats...................................................10 Market Watch..................................................10 Applications.....................................................13 Appointments .................................................13
Kaba buys Ontario access control firm Keyscan were evaluating opportunities in the market, but very, very selectively. That’s what brought us to this point,” he says. “This is a true best of both worlds aba has purchased Whitby, Ont.-based fit. This exposes us to a great wealth of resources.” Keyscan Access Control Systems to round Dentinger stressed that the Keyscan brand will out its access control portfolio and leverremain in the market and will operate age the company’s existing channel relaas a division of Kaba’s ADS Americas tionships, according to executives from Group — one of the reasons Kaba both companies. opted to purchase the company was to “Here in the Americas, we didn’t leverage its name. “Certainly they’ve have a network wired access system that acquired the people and the resources we were selling,” says Mark Allen, the but they’ve also acquired a significant company’s senior business development brand within the North American manager. “We certainly missed out on market. The Keyscan brand is not business opportunities by not having going anywhere,” he explains. it, so Kaba basically was searching for The addition of Keyscan’s portfoa way to fill that gap. Keyscan is the lio to its own will allow Kaba to take perfect solution.” Steve Dentinger, Keyscan on more opportunities, says Allen, Kaba announced the acquisition in by offering a more complete access early November. Terms of the deal were control solution. He cites the example of a propnot disclosed. Keyscan’s director of sales and marerty developer — Kaba has products that would fit keting Steve Dentinger characterizes the acquisition within residential dwellings, but not necessarily for as a complementary one — both companies were a building’s perimeter security environment. “Now looking for a means to expand their markets. “We
By Neil Sutton
K
ADI recognized by Axis Communications
CANASA launches bylaw database
xis Communications named ADI as its Distributor of the Year for North America during its ninth annual Axis Connect and Converge Conference, which was held in Miami, Fla. in September. The distributor was recognized for its commitment to the expanding IP video market. “ADI’s leadership has taken an active role in steering their company towards a strategy which embraces IP video surveillance,” says Dominic Sorrentino, national distribution manager, Axis Communications, in a prepared statement. “Their continued dedication to expanding the digital marketplace makes them an essential, valued distributor.” “Axis is an important supplier for ADI, and we are pleased to once again be recognized by Axis as the Distributor of the Year,” adds Michael Flink, president of ADI Americas. “ADI is committed to IP expansion and we are focused on providing our customers with high
Champagne told representatives he Canadian Security from central stations who attended Association is making the event. “Time is money. What more information about you’re looking for is information regional alarm bylaws available to you can find rapidly.” its members. Champagne also noted that this CANASA’s executive director type of information is “far from JF Champagne announced durstatic. It’s constantly ing the organization’s moving.” As such, the annual monitoring association will be station symposium, reviewing and updatheld in October, ing information on an that it has launched annual basis. what it is calling an The repository online repository — a isn’t a complete list — web-accessible dataapproximately half of base of information Canadian municipalithat includes informaties were covered by tion about bylaws, regthe database at launch istration requirements JF Champagne, CANASA — but more will be and fees, as well as fine added over time. The information, broken goal is to provide 100 per cent of down by region and municipality the information available. across Canada. External links to “I think it will be great tool for related websites, such as relevant you,” said Champagne. “It’s all about police and municipal pages are also building a relationship between us available. and the monitoring community, but “We need to find better value also with the very people who enact for our members . . . more prodthose bylaws.” ucts and services for our members,”
A
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we can go to that company and offer them a complete solution . . . that covers every access point.” Kaba will also be able to leverage Keyscan’s distribution relationships. “We provide a deep relationship base through our distribution — both traditional security distributors as well as datacomm distributors. That is a big piece we bring to the table,” says Dentinger, adding that Kaba’s products may soon be available to Keyscan’s resellers, but “in a controlled fashion and where there’s synergy.” “We’re very strong with locksmiths and wholesale distribution, but not with the integrator channel where Keyscan is very strong,” adds Allen. Keyscan’s current president John Dyall will remain with the company for an unspecified period to help oversee the transition to Kaba, says Dentinger. Kaba is headquartered in Rümlang, Switzerland, with offices around the globe. The company also has roots in Canada. In 2001, Kaba purchased Montreal-based Unican Security Systems. It continues to operate a manufacturing facility there and employs sales personnel across the country.
SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
Larry Newman, director of sales, Axis Communications; Michael Flink, president, ADI Americas; Scott Dunn, director of business development, Axis Communications
quality products, support and services to help them grow in today’s market.” ACCC is an annual gathering of Axis’ top distributors, systems integrators, software development and strategic infrastructure partners throughout North America. More than 300 attendees were present at the 2014 event where they participated in educational workshops and sessions and reviewed Axis’ portfolio and product roadmap. Axis Canada held a separate event earlier this year where it recognized Anixter as its Distributor of Year.
T
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LINE CARD Bosch sharpens focus on intrusion in Canada
AMAG dedicating more resources north of the border
B
osch Security Systems has spent the past year building its intrusion business in Canada. Chris Nolan, regional sales manager, intrusion products, was brought on board last year and has devoted his time to building a channel program from the ground up. He has built relationships with central stations — specifically Lanvac, a.p.i. Monitoring, Global Link Response Center, Armstrong’s National Alarm Monitoring and Security Response Center — which are now all caChris Nolan, Bosch pable of monitoring Bosch alarm communicators and control panels. The new Bosch dealer program will also be available through those stations. “When I got pricing and distribution [organized] and the kits bundled, at that point I was able to go back to these five monitoring stations and say, the pricing is where it needs to be, the kits are created, let’s do some marketing and sales and really spread the good word about Bosch to all your dealers,” says Nolan.
A
of,” says Beier. “The biggest piece of my role was MAG Technology, a California company getting out there and educating the integrator/rethat offers access control, video manageseller world, the consultant/engineering space and ment and situational awareness solutions is making a push into Canada by hiring key personnel some of key end users — reaffirming that AMAG is in the space and we have existing instalin strategic markets. lations and dealers that are reselling and AMAG solutions have been popular installing our products.” in Canada for some time, says Greg Love, Beier adds that the size of the opvice-president of sales. “We have expeportunity is changing. While the comrienced growth in Canada over the last pany’s “bread and butter business” is 50 few years with even limited activity and readers or less, “we’re starting to get resources in the area,” says Love. into much larger projects now — projBut having dedicated resources up ects that are over 1,000 devices. To see here is really making a difference. EarDerik Beier, AMAG those types of projects come to us in a lier this year, AMAG hired Ottawa-based very short time is very exciting,” he says. “We just Derik Beier as regional sales manager. The comweren’t getting those types of looks before we had pany also plans to hire another RSM to handle dedicated resources [in Canada].” Western Canada (at press time, the hiring process The company is also looking to grow its reseller was still ongoing). Before Beier joined the company, base in Canada to help address new opportunities. Canada was managed by sales personnel based in “We’re starting to be spec’d for a couple of projects Northeastern and Northwestern parts of the U.S. that are coming out in the near future. That will “Coming on board as a new RSM, a new Canlend itself to the growth of the reseller base in the ada-based resource, it wasn’t starting from scratch. region,” says Beier. There was definitely good momentum to build off
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Tyco addresses SMB market
T
yco Integrated Fire and Security is putting the word out that, while it’s best known as a company that serves enterprise customers, it can fulfill the security needs of a smaller business too. Tyco is now able to address that market due to the expiry of a non-compete agreement with ADT. When ADT was spun off from the company in 2012, there was mutual agreement that ADT would stay away from a customer base over a certain square footage (7,500 sq-ft.) and Tyco would stay away from those under Hank Monaco that size. As of Sept. 29, that agreement is no longer in effect and both are free to engage clients of all sizes. Hank Monaco, vice-president of marketing, TycoIS, says the company has had to rethink the way it approaches the market. While enterprise companies and smaller businesses may share many of the same pain points when it comes to addressing security needs, how they approach security is quite different. Smaller companies have smaller staffs and fewer resources — it may be the business owner who is sourcing security equipment rather than a dedicated security or IT employee. “Folks in smaller businesses aren’t security experts — we have that subject matter expertise. We can make it easy for them to do business with us by providing the right kind of solutions based on what their requirements are,” says Monaco. The image of Tyco may be that of a global player with enterprise customers, but the company operates regional offices run by people who have lived and worked in their respective communities for years. That kind of presence is especially important to small business owners, he says. Some Tyco sales people have received re-training to address the needs of small business users, adds Monaco. The product portfolio has also undergone some adjustments. Monaco says a narrower range of products will be offered, and prepackaged solutions have been developed in order to simplify installs and ensure the products are easy to use. “In an enterprise, installation and
applications can take many weeks or months, depending on the work that we’re doing. In a small business, if somebody wants a system, they want it pretty quickly and they want you in
and out. That’s really driving a lot of our technology as well,” he says. How to rebrand Tyco for that audience “is something that we really wrestled with,” but Monaco is confi-
dent that the company will be able to effectively meet their needs. “We’ve been serving businesses effectively for many, many years and we have deep expertise.”
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2014-11-10 1:37 PM
LINE CARD Infinova acquires Swann
Infinova has signed an agreement to acquire Swann Communications. Swann, with its head office based in Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and offices in the U.S., U.K. and Hong Kong, is a DoIt-Yourself (DIY) solutions provider for both home and small businesses. Swann’s offerings include security, video surveillance and smart home systems and products that can be installed by the end user as well security system installers. Swann provides bundled video surveillance systems and equipment that includes video cameras, infrared cameras, digital video recorders, network video recorders, video monitors and related installation components.
New facility for Platinum Tools Platinum Tools has relocated its base of operation and warehouse to a larger facility in Newbury Park, Calif. Phone, fax and email addresses remain the same. “As we continue to expand in both personnel and product lines, it became ap-
parent that we were quickly outgrowing our most recent facility in Camarillo,” explains Lee Sachs, Platinum Tools president. “It’s a good problem to have, and we were lucky enough to find another facility not too far away in Newbury Park that is nearly twice the size of our most recent headquarters.”
Samsung launches Open Platform initiative
Samsung Techwin America introduced their Open Platform feature at this year’s ASIS, making it possible for third-party companies using standardized APIs to develop applications and install them on Samsung’s WiseNet III cameras. “Samsung’s open platform camera technology provides a launchpad for the
SECURITY STATS The global market for security system integration was valued at US$59.5
development of innovative video surveillance and security systems that can be applied to a wide variety of market segments,” said Tom Cook, vice-president, sales, Samsung Techwin America. The cameras’ open platform framework allows end users to install any one of a number of applications that provide advanced functions including: Cloud connectivity, video direct to storage, people counting, intrusion detection, queue management, license plate recognition, face capture and recognition, transit and cargo recognition.
such as access control, video management, and mass notification; address needs for real-time security event management and tracking and the associated incident data capture and advanced reporting, within a single software application; and offer comprehensive security management tools for enterprise applications requiring integration with multiple systems, software, and vendors. PPM’s ISD will be run by Dan Ireland.
EMC ramps up video storage presence
PPM creates integration division
PPM 2000 has launched a new Integrat ed Solutions Division (ISD) for expanding, managing, and maintaining PPM’s growing portfolio of integrations for their Perspective incident management software. The ISD will focus on developing solutions with technology partners that: Integrate Perspective with systems
EMC has introduced new video surveillance solutions, new test and validation capabilities within its surveillance labs, and expanded partnerships. EMC is introducing a new, purpose-built, EMC VNX-VSS100 storage system for the edge. In addition, EMC is announcing an investment to expand the company’s existing video surveillance interoperability and testing lab in the U.S. and establish a new lab in Asia enabling customers to leverage technologies from video surveillance partners including Axis, Genetec, Verint and Milestone.
market watch
billion in 2013, an increase of almost US$5 billion over 2012.
Company (ticker)
Source: IHS
ADT (ADT) $35.49 AlarmForce Ind. (AF.TO) $12.25 Allegion (ALLE) $53.12 Anixter International (AXE) $84.29 Avante Logixx (XX) $0.27 Avigilon Corp. (AVO.TO) $15.00 Checkpoint Systems (CKP) $12.70 Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $24.88 Diebold (DBD) $35.82 Flir (FLIR) $33.83 Gentex (GNTX) $32.66 Honeywell (HON) $95.29 Johnson Controls (JCI) $47.69 Mace Security (MACE) $0.36 Napco (NSSC) $4.26 Richardson Elec. (RELL) $10.02 ScanSource Inc. (SCSC) $39.02 Stanley (SWK) $93.15 Tyco Int. (TYC) $42.96 United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $106.88 Verint Systems Inc. (VRNT) $57.55 Vicon Industries (VII) $1.54 Viscount Systems (VSYS) $0.08
More than 70 per cent of U.S. smartphone users say they wish they could control something in their home from their mobile device without getting out of bed. Source: Lowe’s 2014 Smart Home Survey
How much does analogue surveillance equipment figure in your business? Moving away from it — expect to be done soon
Only touch on it as part of a legacy upgrade
10%
15%
There’s still room for analogue, there’s a demand for it
25%
Not at all — we’re all IP
50%
Source: Conducted in Sept./Oct. 2014 on www.sptnews.ca
10 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
Price (Nov. 4) 52-week low 52-week high $27.93 $8.66 $40.24 $75.81 $0.23 $13.15 $11.55 $20.22 $29.12 $28.03 $26.33 $82.89 $38.60 $0.30 $3.98 $9.65 $31.32 $75.00 $34.78 $97.30 $35.24 $1.40 $0.04
$46.05 $12.25 $58.29 $115.84 $0.45 $34.50 $17.78 $26.08 $41.45 $37.42 $34.41 $98.09 $52.50 $0.50 $7.70 $12.27 $43.65 $95.40 $46.64 $120.66 $58.45 $6.14 $0.15
the big picture
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Special Focus
Integrator of the Year
2014
Integrator of the Year inner of the 2014 Integrator of the Year award, Habtech, was celebrated at a gala event in October sponsored by Anixter Canada. Habtech vice-president Mike Godara and general manager Don Connor accepted the award, recognizing the hard work their team had put in. Habtech was chosen as Integrator of the Year by SP&T News’ editorial advisory board based on a comprehensive security installation at the Toronto South Detention Centre.
Photos: Paul Wright
W
awards gala
Mike Godara accepts the Integrator of the Year award from SP&T News publisher Peter Young
The winning team from Habtech: Pavel Rogozine, Tom Bird, Karim Premji, Don Connor, Sophia Nowak, Mike Godara, Julian Nowak and Paul Whiting
Former Integrator of the Year winner, Joe McCann of Bulldog Fire and Security, with SP&T News group publisher Paul Grossinger and Anixter’s Brian St. Onge
Dave Hancock, national implementation manager, RYCOM
Anixter’s Paul Mattie with Dave Cunningham, Catech Systems
12 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
Anixter team members (from left): Tyler Peltzer, Lisa Downing, Denis Perez, Stephanie Fairbairn, Drew Mattie, Rocky Rodrigues
LINE CARD Calendar
Applications Keeping an eye on the keys in Dallas The Hyatt Regency Dallas recently implemented the Morse Watchmans KeyWatcher Touch key control and asset management system. According to Moses Barrera, director of security, the system’s features are what they needed to ensure key accountability. Keys are secured in a locked tamperproof cabinet and only authorized users can access those keys which they have been pre-approved to use. All key access activity is automatically documented so hotel management has an accurate record of who accessed keys and when. The system’s automatic email notification provides Barrera with awareness when a key has not been returned as scheduled and can even be programmed to send an alert if a key has not been accessed per the regular schedule.
U.K. car dealership test-drives surveillance
Oncam Grandeye was selected by Pelco by Schneider Electric and its integrator, Assure Alarms, to supply 360-degree camera technology across 200 car showrooms of Europe’s largest independently-owned car dealership, Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd. The dealership was founded 60 years ago in Scotland, and currently sells cars from 24 different manufacturers. The system was trialed for six months. Robert Bryce, head of security, says he plans to continue using the surveillance solution for both interior and outdoor locations. He will also take advantage of a recent addition to the Oncam Grandeye family, the Evo-mini, for his smaller areas, such as key rooms. “Since most cars are stolen during the day, keeping better track of the removal and return of car keys will be a significant advantage in identifying a suspect if a car is stolen,” he says.
Philly outfits rec centres with CCTV
January 6-9, 2015 International CES Las Vegas, Nev. www.cesweb.org February 3-4, 2015 TechSec Solutions Delray Beach, Fla. www.techsecol.com
The City of Philadelphia’s “Fun Safe Philly Summer” initiative connects youth and their families to free and low-cost summer activities, including many events at city recreation centres. City council pledged significant budget investment to outfit all 140 centres with CCTV by 2016. After careful evaluation of all the products on the market, Hikvision’s cameras, NVRs and VMS technology were selected. With over 600 facilities serving thousands of people each year, the Department of Parks and Recreation worked closely with City of Philadelphia Engineer Pedro Pinto to develop a high standard for CCTV design criteria. A primary concern was finding a system that could stay intact as existing infrastructure was gradually upgraded throughout the city.
February 22-26, 2015 BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition Orlando, Fla. www.bicsi.org March 25, 2015 Canadian Security’s Focus On Series: Education (K-12) Richmond Hill, Ont. www.focusonseries.ca April 15-17, 2015 ISC West Las Vegas, Nev. www.iscwest.com April 22, 2015 Security Canada East Laval, Que. www.securitycanadaexpo.com April 26-29, 2015 BICSI Canadian Conference & Exhibition Ottawa, Ont. www.bicsi.org May 13, 2015 Security Canada Alberta Edmonton, Alta. www.securitycanadaexpo.com
Appointments
June 3, 2015 Security Canada Ottawa Ottawa, Ont. www.securitycanadaexpo.com June 24, 2015 Canadian Security’s Focus On Series: Retail Richmond Hill, Ont. www.focusonseries.ca
Chris Duncan
•
•
•
Richard Coombs
The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires – Northern Alberta Division, has appointed Major (Retired) Chris Duncan as director of operations. Duncan is a 12-year veteran of the Canadian Forces with tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan. One of his functions will be to oversee the Division’s monitoring centre. Richard Coombs has joined iView Systems as vice-president, sales. Coombs joins iView from HID Global, where he held a variety of positions — most recently serving as director of sales, North America. The Gallagher Group has announced the appointment of
Steve Bell
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Matt Hanley
Steve Bell to the role of chief technology officer, security. Bell will lead the company’s security product development and business analyst teams in driving long-term technology and product investment strategies. Matt Hanley has joined OnSSI as director of sales for North America. Hanley has more than 27 years of industry experience focused primarily on largescale video and access control integrated solutions. He comes to OnSSI from Tyco Security Products. Linear LLC has announced the appointment of Tom Cummiskey as senior vice-president of global
Tom Cummiskey
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Inder Reddy
sales. Cummiskey has more than 25 years of experience in both the consumer and commercial connected-security and monitoring markets at ADT Security Services. Honeywell has appointed Inder Reddy as president of Honeywell Security Products Americas. Reddy succeeds Scott Harkins, who accepted a new role within Honeywell. Reddy previously served for four years as Honeywell Security Group vicepresident of global marketing. In this role, he led the company’s strategic plan development, focusing on end-to-end customer experience.
September 15, 2015 Security Canada Atlantic Halifax, NS www.securitycanadaexpo.com September 17, 2015 Anixter Showcase Toronto, Ont. www.anixter.ca September 24, 2015 Canadian Security’s Focus On Series: Hospitality Richmond Hill, Ont. www.focusonseries.ca October 14-17, 2015 CEDIA Expo Dallas, Tex. expo.cedia.net October 21-22, 2015 Security Canada Central Toronto, Ont. www.securitycanadaexpo.com
@SecurityEd • November/December 2014 13
CANASA UPDATE
By JF Champagne
Looking for an alarm bylaw? CANASA’s online repository will make finding and acting on this information easier than ever
H
ave you ever done business outside your region? Maybe a satellite office, or a secondary home or a cottage for an existing customer? If so, you had to find out what the municipal bylaw was, determine if alarm registration is required, who does the registration as well as get a sense of the fines for false alarms. I can confirm that bylaws all vary from place to place and tend to change regularly — keeping up to date is a full time job. At CANASA we have embarked on a project to collect all of that information, making it available to you in one place. I had the privilege to officially launch the new CANASA Online Repository during the Monitoring Station Symposium held in conjunction with Security Canada Central this October. It was a great opportunity to present to a very interested group of CANASA members our latest membership program. Just like with our standard contract templates program we launched earlier this year, this new service is free for all CANASA members.
PEOPLE SKILLS
Visit our website today, go to the member-only section and look for the online repository. Simply enter the name of the city, town or municipality you are looking for and you will get information about intrusion alarm, fire alarm, commercial and residential applications, registration requirements, cost of registration, false alarm
“I am confident this service will be a real time saver for our members.” fines, the municipality responsible to administer the regulations and a link to the actual bylaw document. We have a large majority of the municipalities covered and we are committed to add, maintain and update this information moving forward. I am confident this service will be a real time saver for our members and give them the information they need to support their customers. The repository will also provide us with an invaluable tool when engaging with municipal governments
and police and fire services. We are now in a position to better demonstrate the scope and variances of the various bylaws in Canada with the objective of influencing decision makers to adopt regulations that are a win-winwin for the public, the first responders and the industry. We hope you will use the repository but also help us keep the information up-to-date. Members on the front line are quite often the best source of information, having relationships with the local authorities and getting information in a timely fashion. Let us know if an alarm bylaw is changing in your local region so we can update our repository. Our goal continues to be to give you more for your membership dollars and our alarm repository is one more reason to join CANASA today. We are excited to announce that in 2015 we will work towards expanding our alarm repository but also introduce other repositories to cover other important aspects of the industry. Thank you for your membership! JF Champagne is the executive director of CANASA (www.canasa.org).
By Laurie Cooper
Maximizing candidate engagement Make your company attractive to desirable job applicants
I
n order to increase your organization’s offer conversion rates there needs to be a focus on maximizing candidate engagement through all stages of the recruitment process. This can be done by emphasizing the candidate experience and by effectively marketing the employer brand and opportunity. The candidate experience The candidate experience can be elevated greatly with an emphasis on effective communication. This includes regular, timely communication and interaction (“touch time”). Avoiding delays in the process also has a significant impact. However, unexpected delays may occur and while not ideal, what matters is how these delays are handled. Keep the candidate updated using a balanced approach of email, your RMS (Recruitment Management System) and verbal communication. Another way to create a lasting candidate experience is to be knowledgeable: knowledgeable about the company, the role, career development opportunities and the total rewards package.
14 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
Market Your employer brand and the opportunity Further engage the candidate by communicating your brand, defining what makes your organization different from others and what the whole experience has to offer. Develop your company’s employer value proposition and communicate it with passion. Use the entire recruitment process (attraction, assessment and selection, and offer/hire) as opportunities to market the full picture. It could be the difference between accepting your offer versus the competition’s. Attraction Take the time to carefully articulate the nature of the work involved in the role. This is the time to start actively marketing the overall opportunity to candidates. Share the benefits of working for such an organization. Discuss company achievements, awards, and unique corporate culture. Assessment and selection Keep the candidate informed. Call the candidate personally when inviting them in for the first interview.
Then follow-up with an email confirmation outlining the details including date, time, who they are meeting with and what to expect. At the interview, make a great first impression by being punctual. If appropriate, provide a tour and a package containing information about the role and the organization (a hard copy or a flash drive containing marketing materials). Offer Start with the verbal offer to ensure that their expectations have been met. Be prepared to address any known gaps prior to making the verbal offer. Make the offer with enthusiasm by offering your congratulations and answering any questions. Once they accept verbally, follow-up with the written offer within 24 hours. Include any additional documents that might be helpful in making a decision faster and more confidently. For example, a one pager outlining health benefits or an onboarding plan. Laurie Cooper is practice leader, recruitment solutions and human resources at HirePower (www.hirepower.ca).
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LESSONS LEARNED
By Victor Harding
Anatomy of an alarm deal – Part 2 Understanding auctions, due diligence, the role of lawyers and more
W
e left Part 1 with the broker having created a Confidential Business Review (CBR) for the client. What comes next ?
Distributing the CBR or selling package: How widely you distribute a package is a balance between making sure several good buyers get it and putting it out only to people who are serious. I like to put out a teaser to about 10 buyers without disclosing the company to see who is interested. I then call those that are interested to discuss the opportunity again without naming the company. If the buyer is serious, I will have them sign an NDA and send them the package. While it might make the broker and client feel good about having several buyers receive the package, it only really counts if serious buyers get it. With the rest, you stand the risk of disclosing information that can come back to bite you.
know that there are others bidding. I set a time limit for when I expect the bids to come back in and I lay out what issues we want addressed in the return bids. I like to avoid at all costs having only one bidder. If I am faced with that I will keep turning over stones until I find another bidder. Picking a winning bid: Picking the winning bidder is not difficult, but the winning bid still needs to be fleshed out into a Letter of Intent (LOI). If the deal is a very small, uncomplicated deal, it may be possible to go directly to the final Purchase and Sale Agreement. Regardless which way you go — LOI or final Purchase Agreement — there will always be issues when you start getting serious with a buyer that had not been fleshed out in the offer bid. I try to tell my client to be prepared for these.
Mini-auction: With most of my deals, I like to run a mini-auction, making sure that all buyers/bidders
Doing due diligence: Different companies do different amounts of due diligence (DD). If the buyer is a large international player, expect to have your operation and financials examined in a detailed, thorough fash-
CAMERA CORNER
By Colin Bodbyl
ion (with smaller buyers, not so much). DD can take anywhere from two days to three weeks. I like to put pressure on the buyer to get me a draft of the purchase and sale agreement as soon as possible after DD begins. Getting both parties to agree to all the terms and clauses of a Purchase and Sale Agreement is often the toughest part of any deal. Getting the deal closed: Deals don’t just close on their own. I often have to press to get deals closed, particularly with lawyers involved. Lawyers can kill a deal, so I try to keep my client’s lawyer in check. I tell both parties there are risks to every business deal so don’t try to eliminate all risks. Just so you know, selling a company can take anywhere from two months to a year. A broker like me usually does not get paid the bulk of their fee until the deal is closed. However, I tell all my clients to feel free to call me at any time if something is going off the rails with a deal. Victor Harding is the principal of Harding Security Services (www.hardingsecurity.ca).
A good look at remote monitoring Quality, not price, should be your guide to ensure you are receiving top notch service
R
emote video monitoring is becoming increasingly popular. With technology improving and many integrators looking to create new RMR streams from surveillance installations, there are now central stations across the country trying to capitalize on this trend. Monitoring fees range from less than a hundred dollars per month up into the thousands and it is challenging for integrators to choose the best one. Considering the importance of well-trained and experienced operators, here are three questions integrators should always ask. What alarm technology are you typically monitoring? There are dozens of different alarm technologies, some better than others. Monitoring centres that are used to working with high-false alarm technology, like video motion, are far more likely to miss alarms from better technology, like video analytics. It is important to choose a monitoring centre that is accustomed to the type of alarm devices you offer.
16 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
Are any of your operators’ trained technicians? With classic alarm systems, operators could only choose to bypass alarms when they became overactive. With video analytics, operators have a whole new level of control. Several monitoring stations are now employing technicians who are able to adjust analytics systems on the go. This might appear to most as only a small advantage, but to integrators and end users, an in-house technician can greatly reduce unnecessary service calls while at the same time maximizing the effectiveness of every system.
“Any respectable monitoring station will allow customers to tour their centre.” Do you offer tours of the monitoring centre? Any respectable monitoring station will allow customers to tour their centre. As an integrator it is your responsibility to take a tour of any monitoring
station you choose to contract. While inside, watch how operators are handling video alarms. Do they flip through them, watching only a few seconds of each clip? Or do they take their time, inspecting each video alarm carefully before deciding what caused it. While price is not a clear indicator of quality monitoring services, it is important to understand how each monitoring station arrives at their costs. Operators who are overwhelmed by false alarms can cost significantly more than operators who monitor more advanced and low false alarm technology. It may be worth paying extra for a central station with in-house technicians, but you certainly do not want to be paying for the excessive false alarms caused by other accounts. When choosing the best video monitoring centre focus on quality services, not price, because the cost of a great video monitoring service should always be easy to justify. Colin Bodbyl is the principal of Zeecure (www.zeecure.com).
Special Focus
Security Canada Central 2014
ALL THE SIGHTS AT
T
he Canadian Security Association’s (CANASA) annual Security Canada Central show, held in Toronto, Oct. 22-23, featured a record-breaking 2,590 attendees
and more than 140 exhibitors this year. It was preceded by the Monitoring Station Symposium, which featured a variety of speakers and panelists.
Monitoring Station Symposium keynote speaker Kevin Foster, Fire Chief for Midland, Ont., spoke about collaboration between first responders and the security industry
Charles Camato and Darren Legault, ADT Security Services Toronto Blue Jay legend Jesse Barfield with Mission 500 co-founder George Fletcher. Barfield took pictures and signed autographs for SCC attendees in support of the Mission 500 cause CANASA staff gather to celebrate the retirement of office administrator Lynne Hewitson (centre, with cake)
Scott Hammond of Hammond Manufacturing shows off the company’s latest hardware
CANASA executive director JF Champagne picks out winners at Armstrong’s National Alarm Monitoring Ford Transit van draw
Honeywell Security Group’s Brian Baldo demonstrates the “Connected Home” experience in a living room setup on the show floor
@SecurityEd • November/December 2014 17
The standard
BEARERS ONVIF, the PSIA the HDcctv Alliance and more are on a mission to make technology easier to use, but integrators may need more convincing Continued from front cover video interface forum), says the organization’s mandate is set by its member companies and has not changed since 2008, when it was founded by Axis Communications, Bosch Security Systems and Sony. “I think we’re more than ever on track,” he says. “The alliance was started to facilitate interoperability in relation to video only, but its scope has expanded now to include any physical security product or application.” The wider purpose was a response to their belief, adopted about a year ago, that in future, every security system will share the same communication interfaces, Björkdahl says. “The mission for us, then, would be to produce and promote these interfaces to the industry. And, of course, it is a huge task to make sure this interconnection is carried out in the correct way,” he says. After video, the second area they went to is access control. “We see the same type of development; you can pick and choose equipment from different manufacturers and put the system together.” Overall, Björkdahl says, ONVIF interoperability standards have served their purpose. An integrator can choose, for example, an NVR from Bosch and a camera from Pelco, and they work together. “But you have to also realize the ONVIF standard does not completely resolve all the different features of the camera. It’s a base set of features that cover a good 70 to 75 per cent of all the camera deployments,” he says. The approach of the Santa Clara, Calif.-based Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) has been to work on standards for the physical security ecosystem, says David Bunzel, executive director. Thus, in addition to video, they deal with
18 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
analytics, storage, access control and intrusion. In the last year, however, they have branched out to a new area called PLAI (physical-logical access interoperability), a specification for credential management. The new specification, he says, should be particularly useful to companies with multiple locations and security systems. As well as helping customers, Bunzel says he expects PLAI will open up opportunities for security companies. “A customer will want to have all their systems integrated with the PSIA specification if that’s being used to manage credentials. So everybody’s credentials will be used for a variety of functions within a company. It’s not only access and managing presence, it could transcend to building management issues, energy, lighting and presence management or facility management,” he says. “There are many different things that will get the physical security people — and potentially building management people — engaged.” Bunzel says he thinks interoperability standards still represent a very dynamic segment. “I don’t want to say our efforts have not been as valuable as we hoped they would be, but standards take time. And the market is still trying to get a number of different things ironed out.” Many businesses are currently moving more towards adopting interoperability, he says. There are, for example, very active programs with the PSIA specs in a number of companies: related to
PLAI, to access control and to intrusion. These products may have significant benefits to the market. “Are they in the market right now? Are they having a strong influence in the market right now? Not today. But we would expect within the next six to 12 months you’re going to be seeing products and services that do include these specs that will have an impact in the market,” he says. Andrew Kellett, principal analyst of infrastructure solutions at the London, U.K.,-based analyst firm Ovum, says they are not seeing much comment on standards at the moment from a pure-play IT security standpoint. “However, future convergence between physical and logical security is happening, especially in areas such as identity management, so there is future potential there. I could also see possible links in some areas of Internet of Things usage as more devices become IP enabled, but that is probably further down the line,” he says. The HDcctv Alliance, based in Holgate, Australia, was formed in 2008 to standardize and promote specialized HD surveillance local-site transport solutions, says Todd Rockoff, executive director. The alliance continues to support both the first generation, HD-SDI, and second generation, HDCVI, technologies. In the last few years, he says, HDcctv technologies have provided a cost-effective and reliable alternative to IP technology and the widespread availability of HDcctv equipment has accelerated
“Standards take time. The market is still trying to get a number of different things ironed out.” — David Bunzel, PSIA
“The IT space seems to be a lot more upfront and accepting of standards versus in the security and surveillance space.” — Scott Bartlett, Southwest Surveillance Systems the migration to HD surveillance. “People started buying IP in 2010. But the migration to IP cameras was in fact a migration to HD. People who can afford HD were doing IP,” he says. “But today, because of what’s happened in specialized solutions, HD is free. You can have HD that’s just as reliable as NTSC, exactly as convenient, the same price, with stunning performance.” Some situations, such as transmitting 4K images, demand Ethernet technology, Rockoff says. But HD-SDI offers superior fidelity, and HDCVI is more resilient. HDCVI works over any existing legacy infrastructure: coax, UTP, phone wire. “HDcctv technologies have really enabled HD products for the installed base,” he says. HDcctv camera sales are growing exponentially year over year. Quinn says standards have not improved interoperability very much for integrators in part because those standards that are in place are still relatively generic and don’t speak to the full capabilities that manufacturers have built into their cameras and other devices. “At the end of the day, you don’t get access to all of the functionality of the edge devices unless the manufacturer of the software still writes that integration using the ATI or SDK to that edge device,” he says. It is true, Quinn says, when you know the camera is ONVIF compliant and the software is ONVIF compliant, you will be able to see and
record the video. “But beyond that, you’re still looking for full integration of the capabilities of the camera by the software manufacturer, which is no different than it was 10 years ago before all the standards were put in place,” he says. “The big picture is people are usually buying cameras for more than just video. There’s usually other capabilities built into the camera, and without having specific software to manage that, ONVIF doesn’t give you access to those.” Scott Bartlett, CEO of Las Vegas, Nev.-based Southwest Surveillance Systems, says standards are not very effective right now because too few people have adopted them. “It’s not really happening. The IT space seems to be a lot more upfront and accepting of standards versus in the security and surveillance space,” he says. Another obstacle to the greater adoption of standards, Bartlett says, is that many equipment manufacturers — despite saying they use open standards — are still very proprietary. “Looking at the security space right now, I think we’re a lot like VOIP (voice over IP) was in its early stages. It’s kind of fragmented. People are looking for standards, but when standards are out there, they’re not following them,” he says. “And the manufacturers have that proprietary hook in their own equipment. ‘We’re open from an
Get a Bigger Piece of the Pie.
architectural standpoint, but if you use our cameras, you get a lot more features.’ It’s one of those things.” In future, Björkdahl says, he expects ONVIF will continue in its current direction, promoting a greater degree of interoperability among the different security systems. “And I hope ONVIF can deliver those communication interfaces for that, to make it happen,” he says, adding the standards body already has seen huge acceptance in the market. “We have more than 500 members who together have more than 3,000 conformant products. So we have a very good footprint when it comes to interoperability.” At PSIA, Bunzel says, they hope specifications proliferate and make the implementation of security products easier. “Security products, as they’ve gone to IP, have not taken advantage of some of the valuable interoperability — connectivity things — that can happen. The Internet of Things is supported by a lot of the different initiatives that we’re involved in.” The PSIA would like to see specifications built into systems to reduce the amount of work people do, he says. “Right now, companies are doing the same thing over and over again, employing custom coders to be able to make these products work and interoperate with their system,” Bunzel says. “If we can take a little bit of that heavy lifting and put it in a standard space format, we’re going to make it easier to implement these products. That will, hopefully, expand and open up the market opportunity and make the pie bigger so more companies can benefit.” Linda Johnson is a freelance writer based in Toronto.
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securtek.com @SecurityEd • November/December 2014 19 Securtek_SPT_OCt.indd 1
2014-09-19 2:24 PM
LOOKING FOR THE
SILVER LINING With so many camera companies introducing Cloud-based solutions, there has to be a payoff somewhere down the line By Tristan Bronca
20 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
T
he Cloud is perhaps one of the most widely used but poorly defined computing terms to arise in recent years. The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines the “Cloud” as “a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of computer resources.” In other words, a computing model that is versatile, accessible but otherwise defined almost however one chooses. In science, this vagueness is central to the definition itself, as the term is “commonly used to describe a large agglomeration of objects…any set of things whose details are not inspected further in a given context.” Since the earliest iterations in the mid-90s, this is how the Cloud has been understood: as a loosely defined collection of data. Yet a sizeable number of computing companies have touted it as the future of data storage and those attitudes have begun to take hold in the surveillance industry. The software-based Cloud now offers an alternative
to expensive hardware-based technologies which require not only a camera (or set of cameras) but also a DVR or some other “box” from which those devices could be managed. Cloud-based systems, on the other hand, connect cameras and other devices to a number of control points. Iveda’s Sentir is one such product. It’s a video surveillance hosting platform that’s pitched as a “turnkey solution” for enterprise and small business customers alike. “It’s flexible enough,” says David Ly, the CEO of Iveda, “so that if you’re a small $500,000 alarm company with a Dell server in your backroom, you can use Sentir.” At the other end of the spectrum, he points out that Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), a telecom company with over 70 million subscribers, is also using Sentir for their customers. This scalability is a core aspect of Sentir’s appeal. Adaptability is another. “I used to go and buy PC video games and these games on the side of the box that say ‘minimum system requirements’ and if my computer didn’t meet those requirements, the game just sucked,” Ly explains. “That’s what traditional software was designed to do, and our video surveillance world today — no matter how fancy the software — is the same way.” Sentir, on the other hand, isn’t. From a business perspective this dramatically widens the potential client pool since companies like Iveda don’t always know what kinds of infrastructure those clients have in place. “Being Cloud means you have to be software-defined,” he says, “that means your software has to be clever enough to sniff out the capacity of the existing environment — how much processing power do you have, how much storage is available — and go ahead and allocate enough [resources], whether it’s for two or 2,000 cameras.” According to Ly, the majority of Iveda’s revenue comes from telecom companies like PLDT who resell to residential end-users or small business owners. He says that often these companies will charge a monthly fee for the service, a portion of which Iveda will collect as a licensing fee (Ly says this ranges from $3 to $5 per device per month). As is customary for most Internet or cell phone providers today, the telecoms often include the hardware gratis. “There’re a lot of small guys that don’t like to buy big systems,” Ly says. “They were obligated to in the past but today, think of all the small guys in the streets of Vancouver — the laundromats, the bread shops — that can just buy one or two cameras and pay $10 or $20 bucks a month and they’re done.” Enterprise customers are different in many respects. Transoceanic Intelligence Solutions (TOIS) is one of Iveda’s resellers based in Vancouver
“Well, what’s more secure: your office in this mini mall . . . or is it a tier four data centre?” — Rahul Rao, Transoceanic Intelligence Solutions and Sentir comprises about 50 per cent of their security business. Rahul Rao, TOIS’s founder, estimates that within that vertical, about 60 per cent of its revenue comes from larger clients: universities, logistics companies, tourism, even cities. Surveillance giant Axis Communications offers a Cloud-based platform called AVHS. Canada country manager Bob Moore says its biggest client is an American electronics company that uses it for monitoring its safe rooms. He estimates that currently about five per cent of the company’s cameras are in the Cloud. Clients like these have more complex networking needs than the small business owner. Furthermore many of these larger clients also have in-house expertise available to them to maintain the software, meaning the appeal of effectively outsourcing that responsibility to the Cloud’s host is somewhat diminished. Rao says that neither of these obstacles are easy to overcome which is perhaps why, he speculates, sales have experienced only modest growth in the few months they’ve offered Sentir. But the more likely reason, according to Rao, is most prospective clients don’t understand it. He cites the example of a local night market (an outdoor district with stalls that sell artwork, food, video games, electronics and other knick knacks) that had a number of “interesting” requirements, since they were both outdoor and mobile. They also wanted to mix and match different cameras within their already existing interface. According to Rao, Sentir could simplify the process, giving them a way to connect and organize their inputs, but before they could do that, they had to convince the owner they could pull it off. With bigger corporations, this process becomes more complicated when multiple facilities and multiple brands of camera come into play. Not only that but Rao also says enterprises have a smaller window of opportunity to make the sale. “[You need] to price it out properly when they’re in a position to make that decision,” he says. Because enterprises buy in cycles, if the reseller can’t get the customer what it wants by the end of the fiscal year, for example, they may have to wait another 12 months to try again. While this is no different than implementing any other security network, the sales process for the Cloud also comes with two additional challenges. A recent survey conducted by U.S.-based Eagle Eye Networks found that of the 250 IT, video surveil-
“At some point in the future, I think Cloud computing will be ubiquitous in all our lives.” — Bob Moore, Axis Communications
lance professionals and managers surveyed, 65 per cent “wanted at least some Cloud video recording” but 79 per cent “saw at least one hurdle to Cloudmanaged video surveillance.” “One thing that does hold it back are individual’s broadband and the broadband costs,” says Bob Moore. “One reason why people would store their data locally as well as on the Cloud is because you don’t need to send all your highest resolution pictures to the Cloud when all you want to do is get a notification through your mobile device to see what happened.” Moore says that Axis’ AVHS is flexible enough to allow clients to configure it in such a way that their broadband costs don’t shoot through the roof but often as the number of devices in a system grow, so too does the bandwidth required to connect them. While 41 per cent of Eagle Eye’s survey subjects said high bandwidth usage was stopping them from embracing the Cloud, another 45 per cent pointed to another reason: security of the system itself. Moore mentioned that some of AVHS’ Canadian clients expressed some reservations about having their surveillance data hosted on American servers, where different privacy laws didn’t always make it clear who or what had access to the data. But the more fundamental concern comes back to the definition of the Cloud as something “ubiquitous,” “convenient” and “shared;” all terms that marketers have since realized are at odds — at least in theory, if not in reality — with the security that these clients so value. Rao acknowledges that, but also says these abstractions don’t apply to Sentir, especially for small and medium businesses. “When they say they want to store something onsite, I would say, ‘Well, what’s more secure: your office in this mini mall that doesn’t have a physical security guard, where anyone could break in and steal your servers or DVR at night, or is it a tier four data centre that has armed guards and biometric access control?’” For big businesses that do have some of those things, Rao points out that the Cloud is still more secure because it decentralizes control of the system. “If you’re building redundancy across multiple data centres, heaven forbid one of your data centres goes down, then all of your data is stored in a separate centre in a different part of the country.” He went on to say that this perception that the Cloud is less secure really only applies to the public Cloud and even then there is free software to layer on top to secure it. “At some point in the future I think Cloud computing will be ubiquitous in all our lives,” Moore says, “and I’m not totally sure what the impact on my industry will be but we always take the longterm look at our business so it will always remain a large part of [it] going forward.” David Ly spoke about the future more confidently: “Iveda is going to phase out the box technology,” he says, “you can attach whatever projections or visions you have to that but I truly believe that if it’s not Iveda, it’s going to be another Cloud concept.” Tristan Bronca is a freelance writer based in Toronto.
@SecurityEd • November/December 2014 21
Product Previews
ACCESS CONTROL
Fire-rated wood door Adams Rite
The TRUE Wood RITE Door is a fire-rated integrated wood door system with inset hardware. The company is also launching D3940 Series dual levers. Dual levers on either side of The TRUE Wood RITE Door activate the top latching mechanism allowing each leaf to operate independently eliminating the need for floor strikes, centre latches, flush bolts, astragals or coordinators. All pre-installed lever x lever hardware features the free-wheeling lever mechanism, so when the outside lever is locked, it will rotate freely up and down while remaining securely locked and is also available electrified for access control. The D3976 fire-rated inset concealed vertical rod exit device ensures clear opening, code compliance and a clean look.
Access control software AMAG Technology
www.adamsrite.com
Symmetry V8 software offers a solution to manage security functions in one system through an intuitive user interface. Symmetry offers visitor management, identity management and video management free in all Symmetry software versions. Symmetry V8 supports the new Symmetry EN-2DBC Network Access Controller. The flexible, PoE edge controller operates two doors and can use PoE to power the controller, card reader and door lock therefore reducing costs for installations. www.amag.com
Lightweight key Medeco
The Medeco XT Key weighs only a few ounces. It has a solid metal uni-body frame to eliminate the risk of damage and features improved visual feedback and textured resin sides. The key contains a rechargeable battery that lasts up-to six months, or 1,500 cylinder openings on a single charge and fully recharges in less than two hours. The key is part of the Medeco XT eCylinder technology which provides all power to the cylinder, eliminating the need for any hard wiring to the door.
www.medeco.com
Super Weather Proof (SWP) padlocks are a range of super-tough locks that can withstand the most severe weather conditions and environmental extremes. SWP padlocks are available in two styles: mechanical locks and electromechanical locks that incorporate ASSA ABLOY’s CLIQ programmable electronic locking technologies. The padlocks are available with two levels of protection — with and without a weather seal cap. The cap seals the shackle and protects the keyway and cylinder against the ingress of dust and water.
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The ELK-6023 Two-Way Wireless Recessed Door Sensor mounts into a ¾” drilled hole in a wooden door jamb and becomes nearly invisible once the door is closed. It features ELK’s two-way technology with positive signal acknowledgement, extended range, and long battery life. The ELK-6023 is designed for use with the ELK-M1XRFTW Two-Way Wireless Transceiver for the M1 Security and Automation Control. The M1 allows up to 144 wireless zones in residential and light commercial applications.
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Long range receivers Farpointe Data
Users of the WRR-22 and WRR-44 433 MHz receivers can use either two-button or four-button transmitters to open two or four different doors from ranges up to 200 feet (61m). Each button outputs transmitter data over separate Wiegand outputs yet the receiver installs just like a Farpointe Pyramid Series proximity reader for easy integration with popular proximity or contactless smart card access control systems. Available in either a two- or four-button configuration and equipped standard with a weather-resistant potted proximity or contactless smart card module, the transmitter can be used as a presentation-style access credential.
www.farpointedata.com
22 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca Canasa_SPT_Nov.indd 1
Suprema
SFM5500 Series fingerprint embedded modules feature range-leading 533 MHz DSP with a high precision capacitive sensor as well as an optical sensor offering high image quality and a highly durable sensor surface. With the enhanced DSP and functions, the new module offers a much faster verification and identification time than its predecessor, the SFM3500 Series.
Severe weather padlocks
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Fingerprint embedded modules
2014-11-10 1:50 PM
Smart phone credentials Allegion
aptiQmobile lets near-field communications (NFC)-enabled smart phones be used like a badge ID to gain access to buildings and other ID card applications. To turn NFC-enabled smart phones into an access control credential, allowing people to use their smart phones to enter buildings in the same way they present a badge ID, users download the aptiQmobile app to their smart phones. Then, the user’s access control administrator uses the aptiQmobile Cloud service to send a secure mobile credential directly to the user’s phone.
Electric strike HES
www.allegion.com
The Grade 1, windstorm rated 9600 Series electric strike has been redesigned. The updated 9600 Series has been re-engineered for greater strength and durability, with an increase of 25 per cent static strength and 40 per cent dynamic strength — verified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The HES 9600 Series surface mounted electric strike is designed to work with rim exit devices up to ¾” throw latchbolt, and has been re-designed with a stainless steel cover in six finishes.
Card reader
Axis Communications The new AXIS A4011-E Reader is a joint co-operation between Axis Communications and ASSA ABLOY and is designed to work with AXIS A1001 Network Door Controller. The reader has an intuitive user interface with illuminated symbols and a sound indicator to clearly display the status and communicate with the user. The keypad features backlight illumination and durable stainless steel buttons. The AXIS A4011-E is a future-proof and generic reader that supports several different card formats in order to meet specific system requirements. It can handle two different card formats simultaneously, which simplifies system expansion.
www.hesinnovations.com
www.axis.com
Biometric cards Zwipe
Currently installed proximity card readers, as well as smart card readers, can now be used by organizations that want to add biometric authorization to their verification process without having to implement biometric readers. An on-card fingerprint scanner with 3D capacitive technology resides on the new contactless Zwipe Access biometric card which is compatible with all popular ISO 14443 proximity and smart card readers as it is DESFIRE EV1, MIFARE Classic and Legic advant compatible.
www.zwipe.com
Vehicle access control Feig Electronic/RFID Canada
MAXU1002 is a standalone RFID reader for vehicle access control. It can be mounted anywhere as vehicles enter and exit areas, such as parking lots or gated facilities. The MAXU1002 will recognize any Passive UHF Gen 2 tags, such as windshield labels. It can store and manage up to 1,000 vehicle ID numbers. The validation of the vehicle ID can be done based on temporary access parameters. The MAXU1002, with two antennas, can monitor multiple lanes or the simultaneous checking of entry and exit.
www.rfidcanada.com
Cabinet locks
Camden Door Controls The CX-EL90 line of electromechanical cabinet locks with built-in proximity access control card readers, powered by battery or a 120 VAC adaptor, is designed for institutional, commercial, retail and industrial applications. The cabinet locks provide an intelligent locking solution for applications requiring secure storage or display of valuables. CX-EL90 Cabinet Locks are available for single lock, multi-lock (group mode) and multiple locks with individual card access (locker mode).
www.camdencontrols.com
Hands-free door kits Norton
The 5600 Series of hands-free door kits add touchless, power-operated opening capability to a door. The kits combine a wave-to-open switch with the 5600 power operator and optional electric strike to provide a “clean” exit so the user doesn’t have to touch any hardware. When combined with other hands-free products, the kits offer an effective way to create a completely touchless environment. For example, when used with automatic toilets, soap dispensers, sinks and dryers the 5600 Series hands-free kits create an entirely touchless, germ-free bathroom experience.
www.nortondoorcontrols.com @SecurityEd • November/December 2014 23 JCGury_SPT_June.indd 1
2014-06-09 2:59 PM
Product Previews
The latest in security technology
Network communication module Altronix
Omnidirectional cameras Samsung Techwin
SNF-8010 and the new mobile SNF-8010VM fisheye cameras are omnidirectional cameras that offer five megapixel definition with digital pan/tilt/zoom, intelligent video analytics and on-board SDXC storage up to 64GB. Images captured with the fisheye cameras can be dewarped and/or displayed in a variety of configurations, including single or double panorama and 360° view. Images can also be dewarped on the client side for viewing and recorded in full 360° view prior to dewarping. PTZ functionality allows users to electronically pan, tilt and zoom in on specific areas for a more detailed view.
www.samsung-security.com
The LINQ2 Network Communication Module provides remote control and real-time monitoring and reporting of Altronix’s new eFlow Power Supply/Chargers. LINQ2 monitors DC output voltage, output current draw, AC and battery status, along with unit temperature. Diagnostics are reported by email and/or SNMP trap messages, and an event log tracks activity history. In addition, the eFlow power outputs and two LINQ2 Form “C” relays may be remotely controlled. LINQ2 is capable of monitoring two eFlow Series Power/Supply Chargers.
High-speed PTZ dome camera Toshiba
The IK-WP41A Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) IP dome camera is purpose-engineered to provide broad surveillance coverage outdoors. It features full 1080p HD video resolution, 20x optical zoom to help identify distant objects, 360° continuous pan for overview surveillance, along with high-speed PTZ to precisely follow moving objects. The camera’s self-contained IP66-rated weatherproof housing protects sensitive electronics from adverse conditions. Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) 802.3at simplifies installation since only one Ethernet cable is needed for transmitting video, power and PTZ controls.
www.altronix.com
Embedded recorders OpenEye
The company has launched new models in its line of embedded recorders: the E-Series Max and the E-Series Slim 960H recorders. Sporting new hardware and updated firmware, the EMAX and ESLIM both support 960H high resolution recording at 480 images per second, using the latest in high resolution analogue encoding technology. Each recorder also includes HD 1080p digital video outputs, and is available in various sizes and channel configurations. Designed for ease of installation and operation, the EMAX and ESLIM come standard with RADIUS multi-site remote management software and ReportStar Cloudbased health monitoring service.
www.openeye.net
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Altronix ........................................... 9 www.altronix.com
J.C. Gury Company ........................ 23 www.jcgury.com
API ................................................ 15 www.apidealers.com
Keyscan ......................................... 27 www.keyscan.ca
Axis Communications ................... 28 www.axis.com
Maxwell ........................................ 25 www.maxwellmfg.com
Canasa .......................................... 22 www.securitycanadaexpo.com
Mission 500 .................................... 4 www.mission500.org
CML Security................................. 25 www.cmlsecurity.com
Reliance Protectron ........................ 8 www.securemorebusiness.com
Genetec .............................................. 5 www.genetec.com
SecurTek ....................................... 19 www.securtek.com
Harding Security Services ............. 25 victor@hardingsecurity.ca
Speco Technologies .................... 1, 2 www.specotech.com
HID Global ..................................... 7 www.hidglobal.com
Zeecure ......................................... 25 www.zeecure.com
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Technologies
News Products
Honeywell Security ................... 1,11 www.totalconnecttoolkit.com
@SecurityEd • November/December 2014 25
QA &
B
rian Wiser, may be a relative newcomer to the world of security, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the necessary experience to fill the top sales job at Bosch. Prior to joining Bosch, he spent almost three decades working at Ingram Micro, a large U.S.-based distributor whose primary business is IT systems. Several years ago, Ingram set its sights on the physical security business — some of that business fell under Wiser’s purview, exposing him to a new range of technologies. SP&T News spoke with Wiser barely a month after he joined Bosch to ask him how he’s getting up to speed.
SP&T News: How long were you at Ingram Micro? Brian Wiser: I was at Ingram Micro for 28 years. It was fantastic seeing all the changes taking place in IT. At my last role there, one of the things I managed was the security business. One of the things that’s been really fascinating to me and what really attracted me to Bosch was the convergence that was happening. You saw things change dramatically and you saw a lot of IT partners or network infrastructure VARs suddenly get into security and be fairly successful at it. You also saw the security integrators adapt to the new technologies and change their business in ways they probably hadn’t had to in a while. That was exciting to watch and fun to be a part of it while I was at Ingram. SP&T: Does coming from IT give you an advantage in the physical security world as it goes through its own transitions? BW: I think it might. IT has had to dramatically change. VARs and resellers have had to dramatically change their business models probably two to three times — from products to managed services to Cloud-based . . . and you include mobility in there. It’s really altered the landscape. They’ve been very adaptive, as they are with security. What’s exciting and has been a beneficial experience is being able to watch that happen in IT, and then with my exposure to physi-
26 SP&T News • www.sptnews.ca
with Brian Wiser, president of sales, North America, Bosch Security Systems By Neil Sutton
cal security and my relationship with Bosch, we’re starting to see that with the security integrator and see how well they are starting to adapt to those trends also. Mobility [also affects] them too in terms of user interfaces. I think it’s been helpful for me to see that before and to have gone through those transitions so I can help security integrators go through those transitions too. I think they’re adapting very well to that.
“Certainly, we want to grow our share in the IP video market and we believe we have the portfolio to do that.” SP&T: Are your experiences with IT VARs applicable to dealing with issues facing security integrators? BW: I think the challenges are actually the same. How do you constantly stay ahead of technology trends and how do you grow your business and position yourself for further growth and try to stay ahead of the curve? I think a lot of the challenges are very similar. There might be a timeline that’s different, but for the most part, I think they’re going through the same things. One of the opportunities I think that is probably there is in the service or full solutions space. I think there’s many integrators that do a fantastic job of that, but IT had to, for survival reasons, adopt a very sophisticated services business much sooner in order to stay alive. I think you’re seeing that with the security integrators, but it’s a different timeline. The integrators that I’ve dealt with before, and now [in my role] at Bosch are pretty savvy. I’m just starting to talk to customers now . . . they’re a pretty savvy group and I think they’re open to new marketing ideas and new ways to grow their business. SP&T: Do integrators need to add new tools to their arsenal in order to keep up? BW: I don’t think integrators are missing any tools, it’s how integrators can leverage their whole ecosystem, which is very important — leveraging partnerships, like with Bosch, to help them grow their business, and to lean on those partner-
ships and eliminate redundancies in the channel, so the dealer and integrator can focus truly on servicing their customers and leveraging partnerships with companies like ours and others to really provide a much more seamless way to go to market. SP&T: There was a wave of large acquisitions in the IT market about a decade ago and the pace of acquisition has now accelerated in security. Can we expect to see this trend continue? BW: To your point about mergers and about dealers changing the way they go to market, having the benefit of hindsight is helpful there. I think the more Bosch can work with the whole ecosystem — work with the distributors and how they go to market — I can leverage that from what I’ve seen before, and I think working with the integrators is also going to be really helpful. A lot of those same types of dynamics took place five to eight years ago [in IT] now seem to be taking place in security. SP&T: What are your plans for the Bosch sales organization? BW: I’m definitely in learning mode. The process is just starting for me with all the customers and the partners and understanding my management team. We have great people here and I’m getting to know them. I’ll be doing a lot of travelling and still in “sponge mode” for the next couple of months, gathering information for long and short term opportunities. Certainly, we want to grow our share in the IP video market and we believe we have the portfolio to do that and the integration partnerships required to compete effectively. Also to grow the mid-range and the panel business. We have some new products in that regard as well. And then with the intrusion business in Canada, we’re looking to expand our dealer program (see story on p.8). SP&T: Today’s IP camera market is very competitive. How do you differentiate Bosch’s products? BW: From a Bosch perspective, we have an amazing portfolio. One of the things we want to focus on really is increasing the breadth of our partnerships and getting our products out there more — whether that be through increased marketing or [some other means], the point
is that when people use our products, we have amazing brand loyalty. People trust them and know them. SP&T: What role are standards playing in the maturation of the IP video market? BW: Where I come from is more of an open world. I think certainly the industry is going more in that direction and Bosch is certainly addressing that. We work with many different partners across our whole ecosystem. I’ve always worked in a world where we encourage those partnerships. I think that’s something I have experience with, and as I learn more about this marketplace, I think it’s going in that direction. SP&T: Are you seeing more IT skillsets being developed in the physical security world? BW: There were some question marks a while ago with how fast some security integrators could adapt to the changing environment. I think it’s been exciting to watch security integrators move rapidly and change some of their business models and improve their value proposition and adapt well. I think they’ve done a much better job than a lot of people would have given them credit for three or four years ago. SP&T: Conversely, are you seeing more pure IT resellers now entering the physical security market? BW: Yes, absolutely. I think there was some perception, and maybe reality, of low-hanging fruit. What you saw was quite a few network infrastructure VARs realize that they can set up base level security systems and do a fairly good job of that and capture some of that business. Then you saw the pro A/V installers and dealers cross into that space as well when convergence was happening. On the other side too, with consumerization trends and mobility trends, the home installers get into the security space . . . and reach into the commercial market in order to survive and start doing things like houses of worship. They were also getting into the security space. You saw this coming in from all directions. There was a certain level of expertise required and they could get in pretty quick [but] to put in much more sophisticated physical security solutions, that’s a bigger learning curve. Security integrators understand that and have defended their turf pretty effectively.
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