Alarm Guard celebrates 20th anniversary
Mike Chaudhary recalls business expansion across Canada and the U.S. over two decades of growth p. 6
Serious conversations with end users
Before you install anything, get a clear picture of what the customer truly needs p. 12
Security Canada rolls into Quebec
Andrew Snook
IBy Neil Sutton
n the last few months, it seems like almost everyone has formed an opinion, or at least developed some curiosity, about artificial intelligence.
From experts who have devoted their lives to AI to causal observers who wonder what the long-term impact might be on their working lives or children’s education, there’s scarcely a person out there who hasn’t at least given it some thought.
In the security world, we’ve been hearing about AI for several years now, typically in relation to machine learning and the quest to make surveillance software smarter and more autonomous. These advances have led to monitoring tools that are capable of generating alarms and alerts based on preset parameters, and business intelligence that can be useful in a broader capacity other than strictly security.
End users are going to have more questions — particularly as AI in the context of natural language processing continues to capture the public imagination and dominate “future of technology” debates.
Several of the articles featured in this issue take a look at how security integrators and consultants can best prepare themselves to be trusted advisors to their clientele.
Our cover story focuses on how surveillance systems are becoming smarter by taking greater advantage of the technology and network architecture available to them. Whether that means edge processing or cloud, these machines are becoming more efficient and useful
to their owners.
The experts quoted in the article talk not only about the advances in the technology but the deepening of the relationship between client and service provider. (The latter is arguably more important.) Technology is almost always going to improve over time, whereas successful business relationships are nurtured through knowledge and trust.
This kind of relationship is examined in another article featured in this issue — the debut column written by Roger Miller, president of Northeastern Protection, based in Nova Scotia.
This is Roger’s first column for SP&T News but not his first appearance in these pages. He has contributed over the years as an advisory board member and roundtable participant, and I have always appreciated his advice and insight.
Roger explores the issue from a “needs-first” perspective. Understand what the client both wants and needs — for they are not the same thing — and advise accordingly.
Technology will continue to advance, and AI will almost certainly play a larger role in security, but there’s really no substitute for common sense and clear advice. I’m sure we will all benefit from Roger’s industry wisdom and pragmatic approach to security systems.
@SecurityEd
Your Partner in Securing Canada Security Products & Technology News is published 5 times in 2023 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.
Editor, Neil Sutton 416-510-6788 nsutton@annexbusinessmedia.com
Group Publisher, Paul Grossinger 416-510-5240 pgrossinger@annexbusinessmedia.com
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY
The alarm monitoring and electronic security industry has seen a lot of change in the last two decades and Mike Chaudhary has been there every step of the way.
Chaudhary recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Torontobased business Alarm Guard Security Services.
Chaudhary, who emigrated to Canada from India in 1998, gained a few years of experience in counter sales for distributor ADI, then as a recruiter for ADT, before setting up Alarm Guard as an ADT dealer with a handful of employees in 2003.
The main focus of the business was to grow a residential alarm customer base. That “was our bread and butter when I started Alarm Guard,” says Chaudhary. The company began with sales in the Greater Toronto Area, then expanded across Ontario and out west to Alberta.
Chaudhary says Alarm Guard leveraged Google ad words to drive sales and generate leads. They also tried telemarketing sales for a period. “We did different things... we updated ourselves with new tools, and those tools helped us to grow,” he says.
Alarm Guard was granted an ADT Master Dealer licence in 2015, enabling the company to grow even faster by recruiting other
Mike Chaudhary, Alarm Guard
ADT dealers.
In 2018, Alarm Guard expanded into the U.S., setting up an office in Atlanta, Ga. Since then, the company has added locations in Ohio, Texas, Florida and Alabama.
Alarm Guard also grew beyond its home alarm roots into other services like PERS, as well as monitoring, CCTV and access control
for the small and medium-business market. “Once we had a better understanding of the residential market, and better cashflow in the company... we used that cash to grow the commercial market,” says Chaudhary.
transition
Aside from business expansion and technology evolution, perhaps the biggest change for Chaudhary was the acquisition of ADT’s Canadian business by Telus in 2019.
That acquisition was a seismic shift in the Canadian security landscape and one that ultimately benefited Alarm Guard, says Chaudhary, who estimates his total business has doubled in the last three years as result of his affiliation with Telus.
“We’re now of the other side of that transition and we are happy to be partnered with Telus,” he says. “We’re excited for what the future
holds with them.”
The COVID-19 pandemic was also a period of change for Chaudhary and Alarm Guard, as it was for many security businesses that relied on close contact with customers. When home alarm installs were crippled by lockdown restrictions, Chaudhary pivoted by couriering out alarm kits that could be installed by the end user.
“We used to tell the customer, ‘We have a solution for you. I can pre-program everything for you and ship it to you via courier next-day.’ That really helped us during the COVID times.”
The DIY business slowed down as the pandemic has abated, says Chaudhary, but it is still a very successful model for selling alarm systems into cottage country and more remote areas.
Alarm Guard officially celebrated its 20th anniversary with a barbeque on March 3, which coincided with Employee Appreciation Day. The company has grown from a staff of four in 2003 to more than 50 today, not including its many partnerships. “We’re celebrating our 20th anniversary because of our customer base and because of our employees. Without them, we wouldn’t exist,” says Chaudhary.
Chaudhary is excited for the future of the industry, noting that the days of landline-based alarm systems has given way to 5G, interactive services and lifestyle products that extend way beyond security systems. With smarter technology, like artificial intelligence, making its way into homes and businesses, the potential is only increasing.
“The technology is changing,” says Chaudhary. “Definitely, there will be new things to come. Who knows what will be possible with AI?” — Neil Sutton
ISC West, presented in collaboration with the Security Industry Association (SIA), saw a 56 per cent gain in attendance this year over 2022.
According to event organizers, more than 27,000 security industry professionals attended ISC West this year, which was held in Las Vegas, Nev., March 28-31.
“As the nation’s leading comprehensive and converged security trade event of the year, attendance numbers from ISC West were remarkable, proving our industry is resilient and continuing to grow,” said Mary Beth Shaughnessy, ISC Event vice-president, in a statement. “We held more than 85 educational sessions and saw 660 exhibitors showcase the latest technology and innovation on the show floor, creating a pre-pandemic atmosphere that left many attendees speechless.”
Additionally, this year’s show experienced an 89.6 per cent increase from 2022 for SIA Education@ISC session attendance.
“This year’s ISC West was a tremendous success, as measured not only by the strong show atten-
dance but also in the quality of the SIA Education@ISC programming that was delivered,” added SIA CEO Don Erickson.
SIA also announced the winners for the New Products and Solutions (NPS) Awards at ISC West, including:
• Best New Product Award: Alocity – Alocity Access Control Platform
• Judges’ Choice Award: IPVideo Corporation – Sentry ERS
• SIA NPS Merit Award: Bosch Security Systems
Awards were presented across 26 product and service categories including biometrics; data systems and cybersecurity; smart home solutions; and video analytics. According to SIA, more than 30 judges preside over the awards process.
ISC East 2023 will be held at the Javits Center in New York City, Nov. 14-16. ISC West will return to Las Vegas next year, scheduled for April 9-12, 2024.
Read SP&T News’ ISC West recap online at www.sptnews.ca for more show news, photos and coverage.
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London, U.K.,
Smart Spaces, a provider of smart building technology, is working with HID to introduce an employee badge in Apple Wallet, enabling secure building entry for employees at 22 Bishopsgate in London, U.K.
By adding their employee badge to Apple Wallet, building staff can now gain access to offices with their iPhone or Apple Watch. Employees do not need to unlock or wake up their devices to use their employee badge once Express Mode is enabled — they can tap their device.
The introduction of employee badge in Wallet at 22 Bishopsgate is one of the first examples in the U.K., according to HID. The 22 Bishopsgate facility first began to use HID Mobile Access in 2020 in partnership with Smart Spaces. “Evolving workplace trends mean that we need to think creatively about occupier needs,” said Dan Drogman, CEO, Smart Spaces, in a statement. “Having seamless access to a building through a commonly held Apple device is a game changer.”
Finnish market chain adopts hybrid surveillance Prisma’s chain of hypermarkets in Finland has selected IDIS for a video surveillance upgrade to tackle shrink and improve system usability at four of its locations.
The retail chain opted for a hybrid solution, integrating many third-party products. Prisma’s existing surveillance system, covering four malls, included more than 150 analogue cameras, resulting in operational challenges. Working with systems integrator Safe IT, Prisma opted for IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) VMS.
Safe IT used an analogue and IP mix and match approach, including new IDIS cameras while retaining existing third-party NVRs and legacy equipment using an encoder. An IDIS video wall was deployed to provide centralized monitoring capabilities. Prisma is looking to roll out the IDIS solution to more stores in 2023.
Marriott’s Luxury Collection hotel group in Athens is renovating with the inclusion of Bosch public address and voice alarm systems.
The Athens Capital Hotel is the first to undergo refurbishment, deploying the Praesensa public address IP-connected system consisting of a Praesensa System Controller, four desktop LCD call stations, a wall-mount LCD call station, each with call station extensions. The system is driven by eight 8-channel 600 W amplifiers which send emergency messages to Bosch loudspeakers, almost 600 of which have been deployed. In addition to a room loudspeaker, a room controller is connected to the TV set in each room. “Praesensa allowed us to satisfy the needs of the customer with much less equipment – specifically the number of amplifiers – and with the latest technologies by using the existing IT structure of the hotel,” said Simon Stamatiadis, VP and CEO of systems integrator Simon Technologies, in a statement.
June 1, 2023
ADI Expo Calgary, Alta. www.adiglobal.com
June 5-8, 2023
Electronic Security Expo Louisville, Ky. www.esxweb.com
June 12-13, 2023
Security LeadHER Nashville, Tenn. www.securityleadher.org
June 14, 2023
Security Canada West Richmond, B.C. www.securitycanada.com
September 11-13, 2023
GSX Dallas, Tex. www.gsx.org
September 21, 2023
ADI Expo New Westminster, B.C. www.adiglobal.com
October 8-12, 2023
OPSTech Meeting Lafayette, La. www.tma.us
October 17-18, 2023
Securing New Ground New York, N.Y. sng.securityindustry.org
October 25-26, 2023
Security Canada Central Toronto, Ont. www.securitycanada.com
• Gallagher announced that Melissa Vidakovic has been named marketing director for the Americas.
• Blackline Safety announced that chief growth officer Sean Stinson has been promoted and will take on the additional role of president.
• FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies, has named John Bergeron as the new vicepresident of global services for its surveillance business.
• Camden Door Controls recently promoted Nisreen Mukri to the role of marketing communications manager.
• RGB Spectrum announced that Bill Hildebrand has come out of retirement and will take on the role of director of sales for North America.
• Senstar Technologies’ board of directors has appointed Fabien Haubert as interim CEO for Ottawa-based Senstar.
With expertise in monitoring, billing, and administration along with funding programs, wholesale monitoring, and account acquisition – we’re here to help your business thrive at any stage.
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Get in touch today to see how we can help your business. 1-888-786-4620 dealer.program@securtek.com
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Hitting the gym or the pool before going to the office can be a great way to squeeze in a workout, but for Jason Kloss, his early morning swims are part of a much larger and more important goal.
“It’s a solo swim; it’s a community event.”
— Jason Kloss, SoloSquid
In the pool by 6:00 a.m. most mornings, Kloss swims about two hours a day, or roughly 15 km a week. He’s training for a swim across Lake Ontario this August to raise money for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
The swim, which will take Kloss across the lake between Niagara-On-The-Lake and Marilyn Bell Park, Toronto, is not without precedent — it’s actually a family tradition.
Kloss’ grandfather, Dick Kloss, swan across Lake Huron in 1991 on his 50th birthday. Jason Kloss completed that same 65 km trip 20 years later, raising $22,000 for cancer research.
“As a kid, I’d always looked up to that and what he had accomplished. I had it in the back of my mind to do [that too],” says Kloss of his grandfather, who trained him leading up to the
Lake Huron attempt, and joined him on the crossing in a support boat.
Kloss remembers his 2011 Lake Huron swim as an extreme physical ordeal — complete with frigid water, nausea and fatigue. “It was daunting and challenging in a lot of different ways I would never have thought of,” he says.
But the experience also helped to define the person he is today. Kloss says he met his wife as a result of the swim and his affinity for endurance swimming was also a major influence when he established his own security company just over
a year ago.
SoloSquid, a services firm that specializes in security software integration and optimization, was so named in recognition of Kloss’ solo crossing of Lake Huron and as a metaphor for a company that can handle complex projects (squids have 10 arms and multiple hearts).
Kloss naturally has his own hands full running SoloSquid, but he says he felt the time was right to attempt another long-distance swim this summer.
He will be swimming across Lake Ontario on Aug. 11-12 to honour his grandfather, who passed away in 2021 at age 80, and in memory of a friend he lost to suicide last year.
Kloss is aiming to raise $50,000 for CAMH, which works out to about $1,000 a kilometer. “Raising money is one piece and the awareness [of mental health issues] is the other part of it,” says Kloss.
In addition to fund-raising, Kloss is also looking for help from volunteers who can be pace swimmers or provide support boats for the trip. “It’s a solo swim; it’s a community event. It takes a lot of preparation to get us across,” he says.
For additional details on volunteering, donations and sponsorship, visit the Kloss2Cross website (www.kloss2cross.com).
— Neil Sutton
Ontario-based Classic Fire + Life Safety announced its expansion into Western Canada through new partnerships with Legacy Fire Protection, Photon Electric and Integrated Fire Protection.
” We have been planning a western expansion for a few years now and are delighted to make the move.”
— Francois Godin, Classic FLS
These companies, based in Calgary and Kelowna, B.C., provide fire protection, life safety, and electrical services to clients across Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.
“We have been planning a western expansion for a few years now and are delighted to make the move at this time and with these accomplished companies and their teams,” said
Francois Godin, CEO, Classic Fire + Life Safety, in a statement.
Carl Pollard founded Calgary-based Legacy Fire Protection in 2006. Pollard will maintain his role as president of Legacy Fire Protection and has been appointed vice-president of Western Canada for Classic Fire + Life Safety, where he will be responsible for leading business development.
“We’re full of optimism for the future,” said Pollard. “We are looking forward to unifying our skills, interests and strengths to continue to serve our existing clients and to embark on new projects together with our Classic Fire + Life Safety colleagues.”
The Legacy, Photon and Integrated teams will continue to operate independently with no change to day-to-day operations, according to the company.
Incident Xpress, a cloud-based incident reporting software company headquartered in Edmonton, recently announced the launch of a revenue-sharing dealer network program.
”We are excited to welcome dealers to our network and look forward to working closely with them.”
— DanaAdams, Incident Xpress
According to the company, ideal candidates for the program are organizations that are currently serving the security marketplace and place a premium on customer service. Examples of suitable candidates
could include security consultants, investigators and product vendors.
“This was my first initiative joining the Incident Xpress management team,” said Dana Adams in a statement. Adams, vice-president of business development, joined the
company late last year.
“Local dealers will extend our reach at the provincial and state level and enable superior pre- and post-subscription customer support. Dealers will be true partners and share in recurring revenue.
“We are excited to welcome dealers to our network and look forward to working closely with them to expand the use of Incident Xpress across North America. Their commitment and investment in Incident Xpress is a vote of confidence for our collective future,” added Adams.
Denis O’Sullivan, president of Incident Xpress, said, “After a couple of years developing, debugging and finetuning Incident Xpress, we are confident that the product is the best it can be. Dealers can trust that adding Incident Xpress to their portfolio will enhance their reputation and offerings to end users.” Incident Xpress was founded in 2019 by O’Sullivan and partners including Cora Bolianatz, marketing director; Danny Oh, technology director; and Gerry McCracken, financial director.
ABy Roger Miller
Communicate clearly and establish expectations with customers before security equipment is installed
s a security professional who is approaching almost 40 years in the industry, I have the privilege of working with clients who have diverse needs, unique environments and evolving challenges.
“The ‘set it and forget it’ way of thinking must change.”
Finding solutions for each of their challenges is not always easy. In fact, solutions become more complex as our technology evolves.
The technology, as well as the design, is more complicated, and the end product is superior in almost every way. In this article, we’re going to talk about the end-user experience, and how we can make this positive, despite the complexity we face.
Most integrators have had that difficult conversation with a client or end user about a failure of the technology they deployed. The CCTV, access control or other system failed to capture an important event and they want an answer as to why. Maybe a police officer or insurance adjuster requested to see a video event and made a comment about poor quality.
There could be any number of reasons this conversation is initiated and we need to be prepared for it. The best preparation is to fully understand the expectation before you install the system. We cannot expect to meet the client’s needs unless we (and the client) know their expectations before they purchase a new system (or expand an existing one).
I am a proponent of identifying the task required of each piece of hardware in the early stages.
• What does the camera need to see and why?
• What is the purpose of access control on that door?
• Who will require access to the system?
• What are future expansion plans?
• How long do we require video or data storage?
• Who will be involved in the installation (property management, IT, integrator, others)?
• Is there a requirement for redundancy of any of the components?
• Does the budget meet the expectations?
This is a very short list of the types of questions that must be answered long before the installation. It is an illustration of what we need to be thinking about to avoid
the pitfalls that will lead to blaming a poor system or installation, when it may in fact be a poor solution
Many of the systems I’ve looked at that were believed to be faulty or poor in some way were actually meeting the originally intended needs; there was a disconnect at some point that altered the perception of what was expected.
If we don’t know the specific intent of a camera, how can we possibly install the right camera for that task? We simply cannot meet the expectation if we don’t understand it.
If you are providing a solution for your client, you need to have these conversations before you do the work. This ensures that you and your client are working towards the same goal and should expect the same outcomes.
With today’s costs, we should push back when a client says they want to view an area “just to see what’s happening there.” We must educate them that this is a recipe
for failure and frankly, a waste of a camera. As I mentioned earlier, each device should be suited to a specific task, then that performance can be measured after the installation. That is realistically the only way to measure success or failure.
The “set it and forget it” way of thinking must change, which means it is partly up to us to educate the clients we serve.
The system should be assessed weekly to ensure all of the devices are performing as they should. The CCTV system should be audited annually to ensure it is continuing to meet the needs of the end user. Annual budgets for maintenance or upgrades would be based on this assessment.
In the next column we will look more closely at the details of how we can deploy technology to specific tasks — to improve safety and security as a whole.
Roger Miller is the president of Northeastern Protection Service Inc. (www. protectionpartner.ca).
You’ve worked hard to build a successful company and now it’s time to take things to the next level. If you are considering selling your security monitoring business, or looking for a partner to help you grow, there are plenty of advantages to joining forces with SecurTek.
SecurTek provides a viable exit strategy for business owners who are looking to retire, move on to other ventures, or simply cash out on their investment. SecurTek’s acquisition program allows you to sell your business while still retaining your independence and continuing to operate as a dealer within the SecurTek network.
With a proven track record of success, SecurTek offers you the assurance that your legacy and hard work will be in good hands.
Since 1999, SecurTek has provided commercial and residential security, video, and medical monitoring services to customers throughout Canada (excluding Quebec). With monitoring stations in Yorkton, SK and Winnipeg, MB, SecurTek serves over 90,000 customers across the country. And we’re not stopping there. Our plan is to continue growing through acquisitions and dealer recruitment, so if you’re thinking about selling, give us a call because we’re buying.
We have over 200 independently owned dealer partners across Canada. We work closely with retail, wholesale, and servicing dealers to ensure that our customers have access to the best equipment and services in the industry. And unlike some other companies, we don’t compete against our dealers for sales. Instead, we provide ongoing cashflow opportunities to help our partners remain competitive.
We’ve grown our business development team to have stronger regional support. It means faster response times with a clear understanding of your market challenges, no matter where in Canada your business calls home. You’ll have the support you need transitioning into the SecurTek family.
SecurTek is proven to be stable and resilient in an industry that is constantly evolving. Like you, we’ve faced and overcome many challenges. That experience and expertise will help us navigate the future.
SecurTek has established strong relationships with industry partners, including manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. That often means better pricing, more extensive product offerings, and other benefits that can help you remain competitive in your market.
We’ve learned to be efficient and can help you with the tools and resources you need to manage your businesses more effectively.
Increase your revenue and stay competitive.
If you’re a retail dealer, you’ll benefit from our stable dealer program that has been in place for over 20 years. You’ll continue to be an owner/operator, and we’ll be your partner, not your boss. You’ll have less restrictive dealer territories and more freedom to sell the equipment you want. Plus, you’ll receive preferred pricing on equipment to help you stay competitive.
SecurTek can provide retail dealers with access to a wide range of products and services, including monitoring services on POTS, alternative communicators (cellular or IP), video monitoring, medical alert, lone worker solutions, and guard services.
You will be able to offer your customers a comprehensive range of security solutions, positioning you as a one-stopshop for all their security needs.
Provide your customers with top-tier services.
Wholesale dealers can take advantage of our billing and collecting services. We can sell services like alarm.com to your customers, and you’ll have more control over the end-to-end customer experience. You’ll also benefit from competitive pricing and a quick onboarding process.
There’s value working with a Canadian company.
No matter what type of dealer you are, you’ll be partnering with a Canadian-owned and operated company that is wellfunded and has a stable dealer program in place. A company that understands the unique needs of this market. You’ll be able to keep your own identity and brand, and you’ll still be your own boss. And best of all, you’ll be able to cash out on your business while still operating independently as a dealer.
So, if you’re looking to sell your security monitoring business, or partner, there’s no better partner than SecurTek Monitoring Solutions. We offer the best in security, video, and medical monitoring services, and we’re committed to providing exceptional customer experiences.
Take your security monitoring business to new heights with SecurTek Monitoring Solutions. With our proven track record, stable dealer programs, and commitment to exceptional customer experiences, there’s never been a better time to join forces and achieve incredible success together. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take your business to the next level!
Reach out to: dealer.program@SecurTek.com
IBy Victor Harding
Keeping track of cancelled accounts, and having a plan to replace them, is crucial for alarm companies
t seems today that buyers of alarm companies are paying more attention to a whole list of different factors when assessing an alarm account base, but not as much to two very important markers: the annual attrition rate on the account base and whether the owner is replacing their cancelled accounts.
“Track your attrition rate annually (at the very least) and know why accounts are leaving.”
Based on my experience over the last few years, valuations seem to depend more on the size of the account base (the larger the base, the higher the multiple), the average rate on the accounts (higher rated accounts attract higher valuations), the type of panels installed (newer is better) and how the accounts are billed (buyers like pre-authorized payments better than invoices).
These factors are no doubt important but so are the attrition rate and whether the owner is able to replace attrition.
Let’s look at attrition first. TRG Associates, a U.S. consulting firm with perhaps the most experience on attrition, calls attrition the best barometer an owner can have on how well they are managing their account base. Well managed companies have low attrition rates.
To give readers some targets on attrition, here is what I think different sized companies ought to target for attrition. Larger blocks of accounts tend to have higher rates of attrition.
• For companies with under 500 accounts, five per cent annual attrition is a good target. Really well-run businesses can have attrition rates of three or four per cent.
• Between 500-1,000 accounts, six per cent annual attrition is a reasonable target.
• Between 1,000-2,500 accounts, try to stay under eight per cent annual attrition.
• Large national companies with more than 100,000 accounts can expect to have an attrition rate of 10 per cent.
Tips to establish and maintain a low attrition rate
• Service your account base well. This is critical. Don’t take two weeks to handle a service call. Make sure each of your accounts has upto-date technology.
• Track your attrition rate annually (at the very least) and know why accounts are leaving.
• Don’t raise the monitoring rate on your accounts too high. $60/month accounts are likely to get knocked off by another dealer offering lower rates.
• Don’t move the accounts from station to station several times over a short period.
• Charge an install fee when you set the account up. Free accounts cancel more often.
• Try to get your accounts on pre-authorized payment whenever possible.
• Make your accounts “stickier” by adding cell and/or interactive service.
• Know that accounts generated from dealer programs will almost always have higher attrition rates than organically generated accounts.
• Stay away from buying accounts generated from high volume door-knocking dealers. They almost always produce accounts with high attrition rates.
• Pay attention to “moves” in your account base and try to hold onto your customer when they move.
Many dealers I talk to don’t track their attrition at all. Most of the time these same dealers are spending good money to set up new accounts. Why they would not want to see what happened to that money beats me. I would have a report
prepared once per month with all the cancelled accounts showing the reason why. This is just part of running a good alarm business.
Having a plan in place to replace your lost accounts is equally important. In today’s market, where new alarm accounts are usually put in at a loss, this is tough for a small independent dealer to handle financially.
Most of the smaller dealers today have gravitated to doing more camera and small access jobs which are more in demand and make them more money. For these dealers, making sure to hang on to accounts becomes even more important, mainly because alarm accounts will likely be the major item of value when the dealer sells.
For mid- sized dealers — 2,500 accounts or more — it pays to look for small acquisitions. But don’t buy accounts with old panels and, most importantly, pay attention to integrating them into your systems properly. As for the large national players, replacing lost accounts often demands all three methods of acquiring new accounts: organic growth, an effective dealer program and constantly looking for good tuck-in acquisitions.
Almost every major player in Canada I have talked to over the last decade or so has told me that they had to do tuck-in acquisitions in order to maintain their account base.
There are many factors to pay attention to in order to maximize the value of your alarm accounts when you sell. Just don’t lose sight of maintaining a low attrition rate and having a plan in place to replace attrition.
Victor Harding is the principal of Harding Security Services (victor@hardingsecurity.ca).
By Patrick Straw
Security Canada will be in British Columbia in June, with golf tournaments to follow across the country
After a very successful Security Canada East in Laval, Que., on April 26 followed by a gala evening of games and comradery we are excited about getting our members together across the country.
Next is Security Canada West in Richmond, B.C., on June 14 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport. Our show this year will have more exhibitors than ever and is an excellent opportunity for you to see the latest innovations in security technology. Register by visiting our website at www.canasa.org. Immediately following Security Canada West will be our annual golf tournament and dinner at a new venue this year, Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club in Surrey. We are hosting this tournament in partnership with our friends at the ASIS Pacific Chapter.
CANASA’s AGM
Meeting which will take place at 5:10 p.m. immediately following Security Canada West. There will also be an awards ceremony after the AGM recognizing some of our outstanding members.
On July 12, the Central Ontario Golf Tournament will take place at Deer Creek in Ajax, Ont. This is a new course for us.
On July 18, our Southern and Northern Alberta Regional Councils will be back at Alberta Springs in Red Deer, Alta. They are great hosts and have a lovely golf course.
I would like to take a moment to recognize the staff at the CANASA office for exceptional planning and coordinating of all of our events this year. We launched all of our programs earlier than usual so that our partners could more easily plan their year. In no particular order, they are: Danielle Paquin, director of government affairs, Quebec; Steve Basnett, director of trade shows and events; Cassandra Jennings, accounting manager and Erin Marsden, manager, board relations and member events. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and hard work.
All members are invited to our Annual General
On July 20, we are very pleased to be back in the Maritimes with our Atlantic Regional Council to play Granite Springs Golf Club in Bayside, N.S. And on July 27, our Southwestern Ontario Regional Council will be back to Pine Knot Golf and Country Club in Dorchester, Ont.
In closing, these events are some of the few times that you can network and socialize with your friends in the Canadian security industry as well as see the latest and greatest in products and services provided by our vendor partners. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Patrick Straw is the executive director of CANASA (www.canasa.org).
The Canadian Security Association (CANASA) held its annual Security Canada East trade show on April 26 in Laval, Que.
According to show organizers, the event drew record attendance and hosted more than 100 exhibit booths.
SCE 2023 is the first of three CANASA trade shows planned for this year. Security Canada West is coming to British Columbia this summer with a Richmond, B.C., event scheduled for June 14. CANASA will hold its annual general meeting immediately following the event. On Oct. 25-26, Security Canada Central will be back in Toronto.
For details on upcoming trade shows and conferences, visit the Security Canada website at www.securitycanada.com.
Integrated Security Solutions for Home and O ce :
O -Site Management
Front Gate & Doors
Hikvision’s new intercom offerings incorporate the latest solutions geared to making daily life simpler. Whether users are bringing in groceries all in one trip or welcoming visiting executives, the new KV9503 door stations and KIS613 video intercom kits offer advanced, reliable solutions for everyday security and entry control.
Together with the latest software, these innovative products create opportunities for clear, convenient communication, easy flow between outdoors and in, and greater overall daily efficiency.
KIS613 IP Video Intercom Kit
Hikvision’s KIS613 IP Video Intercom Kit is an advanced communication solution for effective security monitoring and convenient two-way audio and video entry control.
The IP Video Intercom Kit includes:
• A durable and sleek outdoor unit design
• Integrated card reading
• Rain cover
• Indoor unit with a 7-inch touch screen
• Ultra-narrow border (indoor unit)
• Two 12V power supply units (PSUs)
Both the indoor and out door units support Wi-Fi and PoE.
Hikvision’s latest intercom stations offer professional intercom capabilities at an economical price.
The KV9503 door station is equipped with the most advanced features available including:
• Multiple authentication and calling modes
• Ideal for any type of location: residences, condos, offices and gate operations
The KV9 door station also has one-touch calling for a single-family home to contact list and keypad calling modes. Up to 20,000 contacts can be added! It is also highly resistant to impact and weather (IP65 and IK08).
As cameras become smarter and more useful to their owners, integrators are the experts they will look to for guidance
By Andrew Snook
The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) combined with video analytics is offering significant improvements when it comes to video surveillance.
“Video analytics provides a useful aid to manned surveillance. It can provide live alerts, for example, a person entering a perimeter; or analysis of recorded video – for example, search for a person wearing a red top,” says Jon Cropley, principal analyst, Novaira Insights.
“Apart from security applications, it can also aid with business intelligence. For example, counting the number of people entering a store or monitoring queue lengths.”
AI has played a significant role in the optimization of video analytics in recent years.
“Now the dealer can offer an ongoing service and have an ongoing relationship and take better care of that customer.”
—
Dean Drako, Eagle Eye Networks
“The number of real-world applications that AI and analytics can feasibly solve is both rapidly expanding and providing needed improvements in accuracy,” says Jammy DeSousa, associate director, product manager, Johnson Controls.
But how is AI guiding these technologies and how much of this is occurring within the actual device versus the cloud?
“It depends on the supplier. The way that
products are designed, it all depends on what you’re trying to achieve,” says Greg Tomasko, applications engineering leader for Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT).
“In my experience, there’s a lot of analytics that are being driven now out to the edge, and that was influenced by a lot of the camera manufacturing around the world just getting smarter and faster and more powerful in their chipsets.”
DeSousa says that in today’s market, to be a leading manufacturer you must offer an AI-enabled camera device in your portfolio.
“Today’s camera technology presents computing power that is easily suited for very powerful video AI. In the future, we can foresee hybrid architectures where cloud hybrid platforms could take data analysis to another level. However, for the time being, camera-based AI is in its golden moment,” he says.
One company that does run most of its AI in the cloud is cloud video surveillance company Eagle Eye Networks. Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye, says this gives his company tremendous advantages.
“We transmit most of the video to the cloud all the time,” Drako says. “AI in the cloud is better, because it means that Eagle Eye is maintaining the servers, maintaining the models, keeping it up to date. We can upgrade it, keep it running, and it’s no headache for the customer.”
Cropley says a range of architectures are available to deliver video analytics.
“It is unlikely one single approach will win out entirely with different approaches for different scenarios. It is likely hybrid architectures including a combination of the edge, an on-premise server or NVR, [and] in the cloud will become a popular approach for the deployment of video analytics,” he says.
“Considerations when designing the mix between these approaches include processor requirements in the camera, camera lifecycles and barrier to adoption to cloud.”
Cropley says his company estimates that almost 20 per cent of network video surveillance cameras featured edge hardware accelerated deep learning (AI on the camera) in 2022, and this percentage will grow quickly over the next five years.
But what does this mean for the systems integrator that installs the camera network and how does this affect their ongoing relationship with their client?
In the case of integrators installing HBP cameras, which have had many of the latest applications built into the units, Tomasko says they become a much more powerful partner.
“We manufacture these products, so it’s not
my team that’s out there pulling wire and hanging cameras. We want to make sure it’s open and scalable and flexible enough to deploy in 90 to 99 per cent of the applications available,” Tomasko says.
“When the customer asks, ‘What about analytics? How can I get more intelligence?’ The response from the integrator doesn’t have to be, ‘Oh, we’re going to have to redesign, and we’re going to have to talk about bandwidth and processing.’ It’s, ‘That feature is in your camera. Why don’t you just turn it on?’ We can show you that value, and it makes [the integrator] a more powerful partner to their customers because they don’t have to have such a steep learning curve to jump over the analytics barrier.”
DeSousa adds that it demonstrates that the systems integrator is up to date on modern technology and practices.
“It also reinforces the trust in the relationship between the systems integrator and end user,” he says.
Cropley says increasing use of the cloud in video surveillance systems can mean changes to the role of systems integrators.
“Software updates and upgrades are currently often part of this role. However, many of these can be provided remotely through the cloud,” he says.
Drako says some of the dealers adapt to this
“It is likely hybrid architectures ... will become a popular approach for the deployment of video analytics.”
— Jon Cropley, Novaira Insights
change very well, while others struggle with it.
“The big change is that you have an ongoing relationship with your customer,” he says. “In the historic situation, the customer would call up and say, ‘Hey, we need we need 200 cameras installed and we want AI, and we want this, we want that.’ And you want to bid on this, and the customer will get three bids, pick one of them, a vendor will come out and install all this stuff, wire it up, turn it on, train the customer a little bit and head off. The customer might call them if they want to add a camera, delete a camera.
“But in the case of a dealer or installer providing a cloud system, they’ve got an ongoing relationship with that customer. Every month that customer is paying them to operate the system, because it’s all in the cloud. And the dealer or the reseller can offer additional services.
We’ll make sure the cameras are running. We’ll monitor that everything is operational. We’ll automatically come out and fix stuff when a camera breaks. Now the dealer can offer an ongoing service and have an ongoing relationship and take better care of that customer. That’s better for their business, because it means they have a stronger relationship with the customer and a continuous revenue stream.”
Drako says this is also better for the customer because they do not have to deal with the headaches of keeping the system running because the dealer is managing that.
“Eagle Eye takes care of the operation and the upgrades of the software and maintenance, and the dealer can take care of kind of the on-site maintenance — cleaning the lenses, fixing wires that go bad, hanging new cameras for the customer, and maybe making configuration changes for the customer, configuring the analytics or the AI to do what the customer wants,” he says.
When the AI gets involved, the configuration and setup, and the integration into the customer’s ecosystem becomes a lot higher, Drako says.
“If you’re integrating cameras at a construction site, and they detect that someone’s not wearing their safety hat or their safety vest, then the system is notifying somebody. And so, the customer is actually interacting with the system on a daily basis. They’re going to have
things that need to be enhanced or adjusted, much more so than in a traditional video surveillance system that’s not using AI. And so, the dealer ends up with a much stronger bond with a customer, more trust and a better long-term business,” he says.
“It makes the upgrades, bug fixes and security a lot better, too. The cloud takes away all of those concerns from the customer and the dealer. The dealer doesn’t have to be scared of cybersecurity anymore.”
Maintenance and upgrades of cameras have always been a plague of the security industry, but there has been increased interest from clients looking for enhanced cybersecurity.
“In general, once you put a reader on the wall, or a camera in the corner, it stays there until it fails. It’s not an investment centre. For most businesses, they’re not making money on their security system. So, we’ve had to get creative on how we describe the power of surveillance, security, video, access control, intrusion, from a return-on-investment standpoint,” Tomasko says.
“But the threats today are not the same as the threats we had 15 years ago. It’s not so much that someone’s trying to break through your front door with a hammer or crowbar. They’re trying to break through your digital barrier.”
The number of hacking incidents has spiked since the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, so companies are putting more resources into trying to protect themselves from digital threats.
“That has forced companies to take a bigger interest in keeping their systems up to date, to keep on upgrading, to encouraging installers to say, ‘We need to be at the latest, or near latest firmware or hardware.’ Because cameras from 15 years ago, they may have used nonsecure methods,” Tomasko says.
“And if your hardware wasn’t up to spec … that’s a lever to now upgrade. So, we’re seeing a lot more budget and understanding of upgrades from that cyber or IT space, because they have to protect not only their physical walls, but their digital walls as well,” Tomasko says.
DeSousa adds that the long-term implication for maintenance and upgrades to AI-enabled edge-based technology should be minimal.
“As long as you are following current IT and cybersecurity policies, these technologies should already be receiving regular firmware updates. These same updates that carry cyber patches and critical fixes are also the vehicle utilized to deliver updates to AI models,” he says.
“These updates can not only offer continue improvements to model accuracy and perfor-
mance but will sometimes include new AI classifications and capabilities.”
From the user’s standpoint, what are some of the biggest trends driving demands for the different features of AI? They want to do more with less.
“They want to get smarter with how they spend their time. The result of the success of security is we’re not seeing fewer and fewer cameras being installed in businesses, we’re seeing more and more.… Once you install the first camera, that’s the hard one. Once you get one in, you want four, you want 12, you want 100. All you’re thinking about is those areas you’re not seeing,” Tomasko says.
“What does that mean? It means it can get overwhelming very quickly for operators or people who have to look at the system.
“If a casino, for example, or a utility, have 5,500 cameras throughout their properties, how do you watch all that video? What AI has given us, not only from a video analytics perspective but also from an entire machine learning and digital perspective behind the video, is more directed events and incidents where if one thing happens, we’re sending screwdrivers. If something else happens, we’re sending security guards and law enforcement.”
By Sophie Laplante
For first responders, time is everything.
Police, fire and ambulance services all rely on technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their workflow. Technology can play an important role in large events like parades, protests, sports events, and crowded areas, while also helping more isolated incidents local to neighbourhoods.
Video surveillance has emerged as an essential tool for first responders, as it allows them to quickly understand a variety of emergency situations, whether they are medical emergencies, fires, or situations requiring police intervention.
Of course, video surveillance is nothing new, but the advancement of AI has brought about highly intelligent cameras capable of more than just streaming video, as they can now understand the footage they are transmitting, to a degree. With built-in AI analytics, cameras can generate metadata that is attached to objects or events within the camera’s field of view.
This benefits a video operator in real time, as they can be shown the most relevant video footage at any given moment. The number of surveillance cameras far outnumbers their human operators, after all. It also aids review processes or investigations that follow an emergency situation. Investigators can filter footage of an area to timestamps where the camera recognized human presence, instead of trawling through hours of empty, irrelevant footage to find what is needed.
This article will explore how first responders are benefitting in real-time by the use of AI-analytics backed surveillance systems. This technology has the potential to revolutionize emergency response protocols by enabling faster response times to critical situations. It is, however, not without its limitations and ethical concerns, so those will also be addressed.
The basis of the benefits of AI-enabled video surveillance systems stems from their ability to perform real-time analysis of surveillance footage. Video footage can be analyzed in real-time by machine learning algorithms,
which can aid in detecting potential threats, tracking suspects, victims or missing persons, and providing heightened situational awareness to first responders.
For example, in the case of a missing person or a suspect on the run, AI-enabled surveillance cameras throughout a city can perform facial scans in real-time to try to detect matches. These matches can then be reviewed by operators individually to ensure they are looking at the most likely matches instead of thousands of people in a given area. Analyzing this data in real-time means emergency personnel can immediately mobilize and respond to sightings of missing or dangerous individuals, affording more safety to them and the public.
Real-time analytics can benefit each branch of emergency services in different ways, but the goal is always the same: identify emergency situations as fast as possible so the proper response can be deployed.
When lives are on the line, every second counts. Any sort of advantage that emergency responders can gain could translate into multiple lives saved. Let’s look at a few situations where first responders would benefit from being backed up or informed by AI-enabled surveillance systems.
Law enforcement is perhaps the branch which can apply AI-enabled surveillance systems to the largest variety of situations, and thus has the potential to speed up response times for various emergencies. For example, surveillance cameras and sensors monitoring a particular area of a city can detect when certain sounds are heard, such as that of a gunshot. This information can then be immediately relayed to law enforcement personnel for them to handle the situation.
The alternative is relying on eyewitnesses to see something or hear the gunshot and then alert emergency services. There can be a delay in the emergency response that is eliminated by AI-enabled surveillance systems recognizing the event in real-time. Licence plate recognition is another powerful tool, where an AI-backed system can identify licence plates belonging to vehicles that were stolen or involved in criminal acts. Sometimes, alerts can be issued before a situation arises. If, for example,
an individual has trespassed into an area and spent a certain amount of time there (long enough to rule out a mistaken journey), then law enforcement can be automatically notified, in case the trespasser has malicious intentions.
Paramedics rely on getting to people as fast as they can, to rescue as many people as possible. AI-based surveillance systems can play a large role in facilitating faster responses to emergencies, through a few key functionalities. For example, a bustling city centre hosting an event during a hot summer day may have emergency personnel on standby to make sure citizens are staying safe in the sun.
AI-enabled surveillance systems could monitor large crowds, detecting instances of people collapsing or showing other signs of heat stroke. First responders could be immediately notified, instead of relying on manually scanning the crowd or listening out for calls for assistance. On a larger scale, AI-enabled surveillance systems which span an entire smart city could analyze current traffic across large areas, providing the fastest possible route for ambulances to take to the scene of an emergency.
Firefighters also benefit from being on the scene as quickly as possible, with as complete a picture of the situation as possible. AI-based surveillance systems can assist in both regards, with instant alerts for when fires are visually detected, as well as thermal cameras which can monitor temperatures and alert emergency personnel when temperatures reach potentially dangerous levels, which indicate a fire may break out soon. Once a fire is detected, AI-based surveillance systems could swiftly identify, through past footage, the number of people within the structure.
Potential ethical concerns
According to a recent Axios/Momentive study, only 51 per cent of Americans would consider themselves comfortable living in a “smart city,” so
this is something to consider when implementing AI-enabled surveillance systems. It could be argued that the discomfort people associate with smart city technology stems from a lack of understanding, but there are valid ethical concerns which must be addressed to make sure all parties understand the technology and how it is used.
Most ethical concerns revolve around privacy and a lack of transparency. A company using facial recognition to find missing people has a good end goal in mind, but people may not want their faces scanned and added to a database as they walk around in public. A middle ground must be reached for these technologies to experience widespread adoption, and they only become more effective the more widespread their use becomes. Transparency also needs to be handled with care. It’s important to let people know how the technology works, and its intended use, but divulging too much information could affect the privacy of certain individuals or grant malicious actors too much insight into a process meant to stop their behaviour.
However, these concerns can be addressed by using privacy-enhancing technologies, regular audits and reviews, and transparency in decision-making. It will just take time and trialing.
For first responders, AI-enabled video surveillance can be a powerful tool that shaves valuable seconds off average emergency response times. Whether it helps enhance the situational awareness of first responders, aids in tracking suspects or victims, or helps catch accidents before they happen, AI-enabled video surveillance has clear benefits for first responders, so long as ethical and privacy concerns are addressed and communicated to the public.
Alula
Connect+ is Alula’s wireless smart system, providing one panel for security, video and smart property control – lights, locks, thermostats and more. This 5G-ready solution offers a quick installation process, with multiple pre-programmed kits to select from. Remote programming and over-the-air firmware upgrades allow for issues to be addressed without needing to roll a truck. Connect+ is a suitable solution for a wide range of residential and small business security and automation applications. www.alula.com
The new IQ4 NS Security and Smart Home System features PowerG range and reliability. Connectivity with Z-Wave 800 Series enables smart home and automation features. The new system comes with built-in UL rated siren with 24-hour backup battery, built-in speaker for chimes, custom text to speech and language translation. The combined features make the IQ4 NS system suitable for many security applications like residential, builder, multi-family units, and small to mid-size buildings. www.johnsoncontrols.com
Cord Keeper is a solution for chain-operated shades. Legrand’s Cord Keeper provides safety for commercial and residential applications using manual chain-operated shades in locations where children may be present. The Cord Keeper is compliant with existing chain regulations, including ANSI/WCMA A100.12018 in the U.S. and the latest corded window covering regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (SOR/2019-97). www.legrand.us
DEN Smart Home, creators of the wireless communicating smart door strike, SmartStrike, has launched a new authorized dealer program. The com pany says the access control solution is an invisible, wireless smart door strike that installs easily and dis creetly into the door frame. Featuring an inconspicuous design, users get the benefits of a smart door lock without compromising the aesthetic design of the door. With the DEN SmartStrike users can maintain their existing door hardware including the handle. www.densmarthome.com
Homelok is an all-in-one hardware and software residential solution designed specifically for
XProtect Hospital Assist is designed for hospital units that require continuous or situational patient observation. With XProtect Hospital Assist, health-care professionals can observe and communicate with multiple patients simultaneously. The two-way audio communication functionality within the video system optimizes staff resources. A Privacy Blur feature is available when staff observation is not required. XProtect Hospital Assist also includes automatic fall detection alarms. The XProtect open platform can ingest and process data from various sources such as analytic software, specialty cameras, sensors and existing facility systems.
www.milestonesys.com
Hall Technologies has added a soft CODEC extender switcher to its line-up called Gemini. Gemini is both receiver and transmitter for simplified localized presentation support. Gemini has six built-in USB ports, three on the transmitter, and three on the receiver, allowing for numerous Human Interface Devices (HID) as well as USB cameras and microphones. The kit is compatible with an UHD source up to 4K/UHD@60 Hz with 4:2:0 colour subsampling. All audio, video, data, control, USB, and Ethernet transmission between the two devices is carried over a single, Ethernet-enabled HDBaseT link up to 100m/330ft.
www.halltechav.com
The wireless friendly, non-metallic NEMA 4X fiberglass and polycarbonate EnviroArmour Enclosures offer protection for vulnerable equipment against rain, sleet, snow, as well as vandalism, tampering and theft. For use with control panels, medical equipment, alarm panels, wireless equipment, thermostats, NVRs, telecom and more. The fiberglass enclosure offers a choice of a clear or opaque door, is resistant to chemical agents and helps guard against harsher environments. The polycarbonate enclosure has a tinted or opaque door. www.sti-usa.com
The Guardian AI Chatbot is developed with the GPT-3 platform created by OpenAI and is designed to deliver security operators insights with quick questions and prompts, according to the company. The Guardian AI Chatbot has been trained on ChatGPT’s most recent content and prompts and can understand and interpret text and voice using a natural language processing (NLP) engine. The Chatbot can answer a range of questions related to physical access, identity access management, visitor management and more. www.alertenterprise.com
IDIS has expanded its range of AI-powered add-on devices with the launch of the AI Box for Surveillance, the DV-1304-A. The NDAA-compliant DV1304-A AI Box for Surveillance provides the benefits of AI-video through a 4-channel add-on box. This AI box from IDIS allows accurate and multiple analyses from a single camera without any need for calibration. Pre-installed with the IDIS Deep Learning Engine, the box can connect to existing NVRs. Leveraging the power of DirectIP plugand-play technology, users can deploy additional boxes to expand their systems. www.idisglobal.com
Leviton says it has completed improvements to its high-quality copper patch cord portfolio, resulting in an enhanced line of Cat 6A and Cat 6 solutions. All of these cords are equipped with a new compact plug-and-boot design to provide better flexibility, durability and reduced bend radius, while delivering data rates up to 10 Gb/s. The new streamlined and enhanced complete Leviton Patch Cord line includes: Cat 6A Small OD High-Flex Patch Cords (part no. H6A10); Cat 6A Standard Patch Cords (part no. 6AS10); Cat 6A Plenum Patch Cords (part no. 6ASP0); Cat 6 Small OD High-Flex Patch Cords (part no. 6H460); and Cat 6 Standard Patch Cords (part no. 6D460). www.leviton.com
New i-PRO multi-directional dual sensor cameras monitor two separate areas simultaneously such as hallway intersections with a small form factor requiring minimum power, cabling and only a single VMS licence. A corridor mode enables an optimized aspect ratio. The four S-series models can be configured with dual 4K sensors with 3.1mm fixed lenses supplying the widest 104° FOV or dual 4MP sensors with 2.9-7.3mm motorized varifocal lenses with a 100° FOV and a 2.5x zoom. In addition to its low-light performance, the cameras also feature IR LED illumination supporting a distance of 40m (30IRE).
www.i-pro.com
viisights IQ is a new auto-learning technology that enhances viisights behaviour recognition video analytics to reduce false alarms, increase event precision capabilities, and improve overall operational efficiency, according to the company. viisights IQ enhances the system operation by adding a new auto-learning function that implements autonomous training to learn what is, and what is not, an event of interest within a scene. viisights IQ analyzes the video for each individual camera in the system and adjusts the learning to take the specifics of that camera view into account. viisights IQ technology will be available as part of the wise product solutions suite starting Q4/2023.
www.viisights.com
Medeco eCLIQ provides electronic access control without wiring, retrofits into existing doors and locks and offers a high degree of encryption. Medeco eCLIQ features a non-mechanical key blade which includes an embedded battery that powers the electronics in the cylinder, and a water resistance rating of IP67. It also features a Bluetooth activation switch and a longer battery life. eCLIQ is suited for a variety of applications including critical infrastructure and education. It offers scheduling, auditing, and management of access rights through local, self-hosted or web-hosted software.
www.assaabloy.com
Altronix
The new OA2 Occupancy Alert System provides notifications when unauthorized activity or loitering occurs in up to two protected areas. The new OA2 is designed to work with virtually any type of sensor for monitoring doors or restricted areas. Local alert notifications may be audible, visual or both. Optional LINQ network communication enables real-time remote alerts as well as providing system status information. Normal traffic activity can be monitored as well. The OA2 Occupancy Alert System comes in a compact metallic NEMA1 enclosure and operates at 24VAC. Model OA2X includes an integral transformer and operates with 115VAC line voltage.
www.altronix.com
The Aiphone IX Series kit is a preprogrammed box set with a video intercom system that is ready to install right out of the box. The IXS-HBDV includes a video door station, a video master station, PoE switch, and a USB drive with instructions and videos on how to install the system. The IX Series kit is suited for installers who have traditionally worked with plug-and-play analog-based systems and are now looking to become more familiar with IP systems. The IX Kit also includes a step-by-step guide with a USB drive that contains system configuration files and “how-to” videos. www.aiphone.com
StatusLight is an agnostic IoT indicator lamp purpose-built for the security industry, according to the company. Housing more than 36 full-spectrum LEDs, the StatusLight is a compact and lightweight device. Customizable and scalable, the StatusLight can receive alerts from practically any source, triggering bright colours, patterns and sounds to alert on-site personnel of an ongoing security event. The colour of the StatusLight’s full-spectrum LEDs can be customized to change, depending on the urgency of the alarm. www.iluminarinc.com
LifeSafety Power is expanding its family of BiTSTREAM IEEE 802.3bt-compliant midspan injectors, switches and PoE-powered DC power supply/chargers. UL 294-listed BiTSTREAM meets the high-power PoE++ standard, with the ability to power an access control system exclusively through PoE. The latest is the BTS500 network switch, which can be used to power and pass data to PoE compliant cameras, locks, infrared illuminators and access control edge devices. BTS500 features an 8-port unmanaged PoE switch, rack mount configuration and network monitoring for remote management. www.lifesafetypower.com
The CX-WC17VR-PS restroom/ privacy system kit features Camden’s CM-7536VR Column switches with built-in no-touch sensor activation. These Column switches are ADA-compliant and designed to meet building code requirements for ‘high/low’ activation switches. Column switches with no-touch sensors also feature a red/green LED to indicate door lock status. The CX-WC17VR-PS kits include ‘Push/Wave to Open’ and ‘Push/Wave to Lock’ activation switches, a 2 Amp power supply and controller in a small metal cabinet, ‘universal’ electric strike and door contacts.
www.camdencontrols.com
Farpointe Data announced the most recent update to its Conekt Wallet App — for iOS- and Android-based smartphones — includes a new Touchless Activation feature. Touchless Activation allows a select mobile credential to automatically activate when in range of a supported Conekt mobile-ready reader. To enable Touchless Activation in the Conekt Wallet App, users switch on Touchless Activation in the app’s menu settings, then assign “Favourite” status to one mobile access credential in the wallet app. Once the new feature is activated, Touchless Activation will be enabled as soon as the Conekt app is opened. www.farpointedata.com
VIVOTEK has launched a facial recognition camera that integrates edge computing to help enterprises identify the gender and age of people in the video, as well as those who are wearing masks. The camera has a built-in memory card with facial data storage up to 10,000 profiles and achieves a 99% accuracy rate of detection, according to the company. The camera can also target specific images for real-time alarming. VIVOTEK has built into the camera’s software the SAFR Inside AI facial recognition platform developed by SAFR from RealNetworks, which is combined with edge-computing capability. www.vivotek.com
The Si124–LD Plus is a new addition to this line of Si124 acoustic imaging cameras. The new model provides professional inspectors with an enhanced user interface and software features that improve the ability to pinpoint smaller air compressor leaks, according to the company. The Si124-LD Plus maintains its ergonomic one-hand operational design while offering a number of enhancements, including AutoFilter and AutoDistance. The acoustic imaging camera also features full integration with the FLIR Thermal Studio software for post-inspection analysis and reporting. The Si124-LD Plus provides leak quantification both on camera and in software. www.flir.com
Matrix Network Video Recorders (NVRs) include features like H.265 compression that help in saving on storage space. With ultra HD (4K) decoding, users experience high-resolution picture quality. The Adaptive Recording feature in Matrix NVRs helps in saving up to 30 per cent on storage space by recording on a lower frame rate during periods of no activity. When motion or activity is detected, the NVR starts recording at a higher frame rate. With the help of Matrix NVRs, users can specify the number of recording retention and back up days for each camera. This allows users to balance the amount of storage space used by the surveillance system. The Push-Technology in Matrix NVRs seamlessly connects to IP cameras. www.matrixcomsec.com
Southco has introduced an H3-EM electronic locking swinghandle with modular access control options. Specialized for data centre racks and similar applications, it allows manufacturers to meet a wide variety of security needs using a single latch. The H3-EM Modular latch integrates with existing enclosures and security systems, so users can easily upgrade to higher security. The H3-EM Modular has a variety of access control options, such as RFID readers, that can be freely interchanged and combined. www.southco.com
iDter’s intelligent Nio Guardian deterrence solution now features Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) output for integration of video streams into multi-vendor network video recorders and video management systems. The combination of iDter’ support for RTSP output with Nio Guardians powered by PoE++ opens new opportunities for dealers to integrate iDter’s active deterrence system to new or existing customer sites. The Nio Guardians can replace existing passive IP cameras by reusing Ethernet cable and outputting the RTSP video to a current, onsite NVR or VMS. www.idter.com
TRENDnet announced the release of its free TRENDnet Hive mobile app for remote network cloud management, available for both Android and Apple devices. The new Hive mobile app gives users the ability to have full control over multiple networks in multiple locations, including managing, monitoring and configuring Hive cloud compatible network devices. Users will be able to experience most of the features available on the TRENDnet Hive web portal from a mobile device. New licences must be purchased through the web portal. www.trendnet.com
The Digital Tone and Probe Kit (p/n TDG310K1C) has an MSRP of US$144.95. The TDG310K1C Digital Tone and Probe Kit allows tracing and locating of single or bundles cables that are connected to unpowered or active networks such as phone lines, network cables or coax cables. The built-in test functions can verify proper termination of network cables or test for shorts in the single-ended test mode. Features include: trace and locate cables in unpowered or live circuits; audible and visual signal strength indicators; built-in testing of RJ45 terminations; check status of analog phone lines; built-in high-intensity flashlight. www.platinumtools.com
uHave Control has released an API that provides commands to communicate, monitor and control both relays and I/O on the uSwitch CS. This will allow for integration with any existing platform, dashboard and automation software. uSwitch CS, a 2-channel Ethernet/WiFi IP addressable relay that can be controlled remotely, has 2 GPIOs that can trigger its onboard relays and hundreds of uSwitch relays virtually over a network as well as an analog to digital converter. All uSwitch products come with a built-in watchdog that pings network devices, detects inactivity, and reboots network devices.
www.uhavecontrol.com
The next-generation Winglock Swing Access Gate solution will complement Boon Edam’s line of optical turnstiles. The new expanded range of dimensions for the Winglock Swing covers a passage of 3 feet at a height of just under 6 feet. The new Winglock Swing is constructed from stainless steel and a single glass panel. In addition to increased dimensions, the Winglock Swing utilizes a new, synchronous movement to ensure that one panel is closed before the other panel reaches the closed position. This avoids pinching and allows the block detection to function as a standard door leaf.
www.boonedam.com
VuWall
TRx centralized video wall management software 3.4 adds support for SDVoE multiview mode, video wall mode, and USB routing on Samsung’s The Wall for high-quality, zero-latency video distribution over 10Gb. With TRx 3.4, VuWall brings a full video wall management solution with SDVoE functionality. TRx can manage multiple video walls at a time, hundreds of AV encoders and decoders over 10Gb (SDVoE) and 1Gb AV-over-IP environments. TRx has built-in intelligence to recognize source-to-destination compatibility. www.vuwall.com
TechLogix Networx
TechLogix MOFO cables leverage a true fiber core to deliver speed, bandwidth and reliability. Pre-terminated HDMI, USB and DisplayPort connectors accommodate installations and the optical construction provides immunity to RF, EM and electrical interference without the need for inline boosters, extenders or power supplies. Plus, MOFO cables can be repurposed in the field using standard fiber optic tools and connectors. MOFO cables are available in traditional cable constructions, wallplate and table insert constructions, and heavy-duty micro-armoured constructions. New solutions among the MOFO Series include 8K HDMI Cables with Detachable Heads, USB-C Cables, USB-A to USB-C Cables, and DisplayPort 2.0 Cables. www.tlnetworx.com
Video Mount Products, a provider of mounting solutions for the security, commercial, CI, residential, and pro audio/video markets, announced the launch of its new Rack Rail Mount LED Gooseneck Light. The ER-LIGHT-118 is now shipping with an MSRP of US$199.95. Made in the U.S., the ERLIGHT-118 has been designed to provide illumination where it is needed most. Without taking up any rack space, it is adjustable in order to meet varying needs within cabinets from nearly any angle. www.videomount.com
STI’s heated enclosures and covers offer a way to secure important devices and electronics outside and in exposed environments such as unheated warehouses, storage units, freezers and more. When temperatures drop, heated covers and enclosures keep the inside of the cabinet warm and the appliance operational. They allow devices to be mounted in temperatures exceeding normal parameters. Help eliminate the expense of heating an entire warehouse or constructing a climate-controlled room.
www.sti-usa.com
AXIS P5676-LE PTZ Camera includes Forensic WDR and Lightfinder 2.0. This robust, IP66-, NEMA 4X-rated, vandal-resistant camera features Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) to ensure stable images despite vibration. It can handle temperatures ranging from -30°C to 50°C. Built-in cybersecurity features safeguard the system and prevent unauthorized access. With support for advanced analytics, this camera includes AXIS Object Analytics to detect and classify people and vehicles. Advanced Gatekeeper will automatically zoom in on objects detected in pre-defined areas. www.axis.com
C2G
C2G announced three new models to its docking station family. The lineup includes two USB-C 9-in-1 Dual Display Docking Station models available with or without a 60W power supply and the Thunderbolt 3 USB-C 11in-1 8K UHD Docking Station. With a range of video and audio outputs, power delivery and data transfer speeds, the new docking stations are designed to transform Thunderbolt 3- and 4-enabled laptops into total desktop solutions through a single USB-C connection. These models join the company’s previously announced Thunderbolt 4 USB-C 10-in1 Dual Display Docking Station.
www.cablestogo.com
The GARDiSVU video management solution, a hybrid-cloud-based CCTV offering, is designed to synchronize directly with, and complement the company’s GARDiS ecosystem of integrated access control and security solutions. GARDiSVU’s Hybrid-Cloud solution offers on-premises video storage with cloud-based supervision and monitoring. This system architecture combines the benefits of 24/7 browser-based monitoring and video management with physical on-premises storage. GARDiSVU provides a turnkey solution, combining recording servers, remote display servers, and a VMS and monitoring solution. www.tdsi.co.uk
TRU-Vu Monitors has released a 19” rugged, industrial-grade display designed to operate 24/7. The VMM-19U 19” monitor features TRU-Tuff Treatment for maximum shock and vibration resistance. These rugged monitors feature a 4:3, or square aspect ratio, 250 nits brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio. They are suited for use with analog cameras, and BNC cameras as well as many legacy machine vision systems. They may be used in a range of applications, including manufacturing plants, surveillance systems, specialty vehicles and pipeline inspection systems.
www.TRU-VuMonitors.com
