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ComNet: Prevent against physical disruptions to security infrastructure

ComNet is an ACRE company that specializes in audio, video, data, and Ethernet communication products. One such area where the company’s Ethernet products come in useful is when combatting the threat of cybersecurity.
When it comes to cybersecurity, the threat of physical interruptions to a system by breaking into its infrastructure devices are rarely considered. However, through this method, it is possible to compromise and cause complete failure of a security system.
“Due to their nature, security and surveillance networks put network connections in both secure and unsecured locations. Vulnerable positioning provides ample opportunities for the would-be-attacker, so due care and attention must be paid to equipment protection,” explains Iain Deuchars, ComNet Regional Manager for the UK and Ireland.
For instance, the security threat to a network at this level results from a third-party physically connecting to the switch, or by removing an edge device from the system and attaching unauthorized equipment in its place. The connection could be to an optical port, but that would require the third-party to have the correct optical interface. So, for opportunistic reasons, it tends to be a connection via an electrical interface. Electrical Ethernet ports are based around an industry standard, so connecting to these is relatively simple. As every laptop today has such a connection, the probable weapon of attack is readily available.
Ethernet switches are available in managed or unmanaged forms, where the managed platform has many more features and allows the user to configure and remotely monitor the device. The unmanaged unit has no such facilities; it merely does the primary job based on its shipped configuration. “Media converters tend to be in an unmanaged format only. Where security is concerned, managed units offer several facilities to prevent unauthorized entry to the network. In contrast, unmanaged forms do not,” states Deuchars. “Therefore, managed Ethernet switches should be used throughout your network.”
Those who ignore the basics of network security and opt instead for cheaper, unmanaged devices, are exposing their networks to the risk of hackers. Hackers who can very quickly turn a sophisticated security network to their own advantage. And with the safety and protection of critical infrastructure, data and communications at stake, are you prepared to take that risk?

Your hospital keys could be working harder. Here’s how

London, November 2019 – The stakes are higher when it comes to hospital security. Patients expect and deserve privacy and safety. Yet a hospital building or complex must remain a welcoming and supportive space, around the clock. Mechanical lock and key technology may be too passive for this modern healthcare environment, but that does not mean you should abandon the familiarity of keys altogether. Because not all keys are created equal.

Programmable electronic key systems put the advantages of sophisticated access control into the form of a traditional key. They reinvent the key for the 21st century, making it more flexible, more powerful and better equipped to handle the security demands of a busy place. Lost keys and departed employees are no longer a problem, because their key’s access rights can be cancelled with a click.

And at multiple secure points around the hospital, the familiarity of a key is welcome to a user group who are not experts — at least, not in access control technology.

Upgrade a key’s IQ
Keys can be as smart as any card-based credential. For example, CLIQ technology from ASSA ABLOY backs up the familiarity and ease of use of key-based locking with the flexible management and real-time security features of an intelligent electronic access system.

A CLIQ locking system consists of battery-powered, programmable keys; cable-free padlocks and cylinders that are easy to retrofit to almost any standard opening; and management software you can run locally or via a secure cloud. For users, CLIQ means carrying a single, programmable key pre-loaded to unlock all authorised openings — not just doors, but also gates, alarm boxes, cabinets and lifts. Say goodbye to huge key rings.

For hospital security managers, a programmable key solution enables you to create personalised access schedules — even for temporary contractors — and collect audit trails for doors or keyholders automatically. Staff travel into, out of and through the hospital based on rules you set and program into their keys.

Medicine management with key-based access control
Many hospitals find CLIQ invaluable in managing access to medicines and other controlled substances. Nursing staff using older mechanical key systems struggle to keep track of who has the right keys. Searching for that person to gain access to drugs wastes precious time. Unauthorized access to drug stores can, of course, bring serious financial and safety implications.

At Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, pharmacy managers sought a better solution adapted to nurse-accessed medicine stores. They chose a PROTEC2 CLIQ system which combines mechanical disc cylinders with battery powered, programmable CLIQ keys. Lock electronics are powered by the battery inside every key, so the retrofit was cable-free. CLIQ devices secure doors, cabinets and mobile drug trolleys within the same access system. Security and pharmacy managers can see who opened every lock whenever they want — making medicine audits and incident investigation much easier.

“Programmable key solutions can really boost medicine safety in hospitals,” says Stephan Schulz, CLIQ Product Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEA. “Nurses at Queen Elizabeth, Birmingham, carry their own key with personalised access rights, so they don’t waste time finding out who has the key to every cupboard. Patients benefit.”

“A similar system trialled at Scunthorpe Hospital found the total wasted time eliminated would equate to having an additional 24 nurses on duty across the Trust every day,” Stephan Schulz adds.

Software and hardware in harmony
Key-based access solutions are equally comfortable at scale. At University Hospital Frankfurt 1,100 eCLIQ cylinders secure doors in a new building. A fully electronic implementation of CLIQ technology, eCLIQ cylinders and keys are easy for staff to use and for hospital security managers to administer from web-based software.

The CLIQ Web Manager makes it easy to program, reprogram and audit every CLIQ key, cylinder or padlock. Because the interface is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection — via multifactor login over https:// — you can manage a CLIQ system whenever and from wherever you choose. Its architecture supports multiple administrators or sites.

The Web Manager also integrates easily with all kinds of business management software, helping you automate tedious operations and processes. You can make the Web Manager one element within an existing access control system, if you choose.

The Web Manager can run in a self-hosted IT environment or completely free of local software installation with two different Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions: Shared SaaS or Dedicated SaaS with hosting just for you and maintenance schedules you set. With either option, your security software is always up-to-date — a major benefit in healthcare, where confidentiality makes cyber-attack resistance critical.

Learn more about CLIQ access control and download a free solution guide at https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/cliq

a&s Adria No. 151

World’s First 1TB MicroSD Card for Cloud-Managed Video Surveillance

Micron Technology unveiled the world’s highest-capacity industrial microSD card – Micron i300 1TB3 microSDXC UHS-I – to address the edge storage needs of the video surveillance market and other industrial applications. The new Micron i300 1TB microSD card is based on Micron’s advanced 96-layer 3D quad-level cell (QLC) NAND technology, now making it cheaper for small- to-medium-sized deployments to have primary storage in the camera compared to a centralized storage architecture. The i300 microSD card enables users of video surveillance systems to capture and store more than three months of high-quality video footage on-device and at the edge.

“Micron’s i300 industrial-grade microSD cards for edge storage open the possibility for a broad range of video surveillance as a service deployments that no longer require local network video recorders,” said Amit Gattani, senior director of Segment Marketing in Micron’s Embedded Business Unit. “Micron’s 96-layer 3D QLC NAND is instrumental in helping us deliver 1TB of storage in a microSD form factor and at a breakthrough price point to accelerate edge storage and cloud-based service models.”

Intelligence at the Edge

VSaaS systems are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence-based and higher-resolution cameras that require more storage at the edge. The Micron i300 1TB microSDXC card allows 24/7 continuous capture and storage of up to 1TB of high-quality video in the camera. Users of video surveillance systems can now store large amounts of video footage on-device, opening a broader set of uses for cloud-managed solutions.

“Demand for commercial surveillance cameras continues to grow at a rapid pace,” said Jeff Janukowicz, research vice president at International Data Corporation (IDC). “Smart cameras, artificial intelligence, machine learning and threat detection are being driven to the edge for real-time responsiveness, making Micron’s 1TB microSD card an invaluable solution for differentiation and innovation.”

Micron’s industrial-grade microSD portfolio is designed to endure the harsh environments in which surveillance systems are deployed. The Micron i300 1TB microSDXC card minimizes frame drops in a 24/7, 30 frames per second (FPS) recording environment, offering twice the reliability of hard disk drives at 2 million hours mean time to failure. The card features a smart tool for monitoring the health of devices.

“VIVOTEK has launched a series of edge-computing network cameras and successfully deployed Micron’s high-quality industrial-grade microSD cards,” said Shengfu Cheng, director of Marketing and Product Development Division, VIVOTEK Inc. “Micron’s portfolio of industrial microSD cards up to 1TB equips us to deliver greater flexibility, scalability and maintenance efficiency to our customers, all of which contribute to a better return on investment.”

The Micron i300 microSDXC UHS-I card is offered in 128GB to 1TB capacities, which are available for ordering. The entire industrial-grade portfolio includes capacities ranging from 32GB to 1TB.

Dahua Focuses on Partnerships in Serbia

On the afternoon of November 6th, delegates from Serbia visited Dahua Technology headquarters: Chief of Shumadija region of Serbia, Mrs. Biljana llic Stosic; Adviser to the mayor of Kragujevac, Mr. Dusan Davidovic; General Manager of Serbian Post, Mrs. Mira Petrovic; and Mr. Dejan Pesut. They were warmly received by Dahua VP, General Manager of Dahua Overseas Business Center, Mr. Jason Zhao, along with Managing Director of Dahua CEE & Nordic, Mr. Colin Wang, Technical Director of Dahua Serbia, Mr. Frank Hu and Sales Director of Traffic & Government Solution, Mr. Leo Xu.

The visit started with a tour of the Dahua showroom, where the delegates had first-hand experience of all the company’s cutting-edge technologies and solution offerings. After the tour, a meeting was held where Mr. Frank Hu introduced the company to the guests and shared some of the company’s successful projects in Serbia, as well as its solutions in Safe City, Smart Traffic, Smart Logistics and other industries. The representatives from Serbia also actively participated in the meeting and gave informative speeches. According to Mrs. Biljana,Shumadija will be the next data centre and technology distribution centre in Serbia because of its favourable location, convenient logistics and transportation, and high level of education. In addition, Mrs. Mira Petrovic talked about the history of the Serbian Post and stated that currently they have 17,000 employees and thousands of branches throughout the country. At the same time, she expressed great interest in future cooperation with Dahua Technology in transportation and logistics. Mr. Dusan also delivered a speech with the introduction of Kragujevac, the capital city of Shumadija.

Lastly, Mr. Zhao expressed his warm welcome to the three distinguished guests on behalf of the company, with emphasis on Dahua Technology’s capabilities in providing various solutions. He also introduced Dahua’s Serbian subsidiary, which has 15 employees and 2 offices to serve the local customers in terms of security maintenance and urban construction.

In response to Mrs. Biljana’s invitation to visit Shumadija for further details of technology import, Mr. Colin Wang promised that the local team of Dahua Serbia will continue to follow up on cooperation opportunities in various potential fields such as transportation, logistics, retail and safe cities.

Adhering to the core concept of openness, Dahua Technology has been seeking cooperation opportunities in different industries and fields. This visit has deepened the relationship between Dahua Technology and the Serbian government, and has strengthened the foundation for Dahua Technology’s future projects and businesses in this region.

First Dahua LED Screen Project in Azerbaijan

The ADA university in Azerbaijan started the construction of a new teaching building in 2017. Its multimedia classroom has been equipped with Dahua’s technology to help provide 40 square metres of LED screens to provide students with advanced and modern teaching equipment.

Established by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ADA University is a state higher education institution engaged in the delivery of undergraduate and graduate degree programmes in addition to research advancement.

42 m2 PHSA1.6-MH indoor fine pixel LED screens from Dahua Technology were seamlessly spliced and installed in the multimedia classroom of the ADA University. The solution features a single control chip with only one IC. The product adopts spread spectrum VFE technology to achieve a higher refresh rate, while its wide colour range provides excellent high restoration and colour uniformity. It can also achieve high contrast, low failure rate and low light reduction. With wide current regulation technology, the brightness of the LED screens can be adjusted within 50-800 nits without losing grey levels, which is applicable in different environments. A centralised power supply was also deployed to lower power consumption.

In addition to providing the devices, staff from the Dahua Delivery Department were also responsible for on-site installation, offering operation and after-sales training to both distributor and staff of ADA University.

The customer was very satisfied with the successful delivery of the project. The students of ADA University can now enjoy vivid and colourful videos and images through the LED screen, bringing a pleasant viewing experience for teachers and students.

“Dahua Technology has a professional technical team, which provides us with high-quality service. We are very satisfied with Dahua Technology’s products. The professional training provided to us is very helpful for our operation and maintenance. We believe that we will continue to cooperate with Dahua Technology in the future,” said Alekberov Mukhdar, Electrical Engineer of ADA University.

HID Partners To Go Live on Banking ID Solution

HID Global has collaborated with Temenos, a banking software company, to integrate HID’s risk-based authentication solution with Temenos Infinity, a breakthrough digital front office product, and Temenos T24 Transact, a next generation solution in core banking.

The joint offering, available on-premise or in the cloud, provides an agile, simplified path to secure digital banking, reducing the time and cost of delivering risk-based adaptive authentication, threat detection, and transaction signing on the Temenos platform. As part of the integration, HID Global’s authentication solution can now offer self-service functions to over 3,000 Temenos customers through Temenos Marketplace.

HID Global’s authentication solution for Temenos customers combines its Activ ID authentication platform with the HID Risk Management solution featuring real-time risk profiling technology. Also included is HID Approve, a next-generation multi-factor authentication solution for online and mobile banking customers that combines the security of public key-based cryptography and mobile-based out-of-band transaction signatures with the convenience of mobile push notifications.

“HID has partnered with Temenos for more than a decade to provide solutions for nearly 100 banks worldwide,” said Brad Jarvis, Vice President and Managing Director of Identity & Access Management Solutions (IAMS) with HID Global. “This latest collaboration streamlines banks’ ability to implement advanced user authentication services with Temenos Infinity and Temenos T24 Transact. The pre-configured integration makes it easier than ever for Temenos customers to deploy out authentication tools without any customized development.”

“As more and more customers bank through digital channels, incidents of fraud naturally increase, and the ramifications to both bank and consumer can be massive,” said Adam Gable, Product Director – Financial Crime Mitigation, Treasury and Risk, Temenos. “Banks need to protect their customers as well as retain them and improve trust. Using a combination of innovative technologies and techniques, HID’s risk-based authentication solution means customers benefit from improved security at the source of the financial transaction – the device.”

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Industrial Door Company

ASSA ABLOY has signed an agreement to acquire AM Group, an Australian industrial door company within entrance automation.

“I am very pleased to welcome AM Group and their employees into the ASSA ABLOY Group. I welcome this complementary addition to our business, specializing in innovative entrance automation,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

“AM Group complements both our product offering and our geographic coverage in Australia. By adding their strong product portfolio, which includes rolling steel doors and bi-fold doors, to ASSA ABLOY’s commercial network, technologies and competences, we will continue our successful journey,” says Mogens Jensen, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of Entrance Systems Division.

AM Group was founded in Australia in 1923 and has 425 employees. The head office is located in Sydney, Australia.

Sales for 2019 are expected to reach about EUR 74 million with a good EBIT margin and the acquisition will be accretive to EPS from the start.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2020.

IAM Market Set to Hit US $20 Billion

The Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market size is set to cross USD 20 billion by 2025, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

The IAM market is estimated to register substantial growth from 2019 to 2025 due to growing cases of identity theft, data leakage & loss, and unauthorised access. The market growth is attributed to rapid advancements in the IT infrastructure, rising security concerns among organisations due to an increase in data breaches & identity theft, rising growth of web-based applications, enhanced adoption of the IDaaS platform, and favourable government initiatives. The UK government passed the GDPR law effective from May 2018, which will assist businesses to enhance their cyber security portfolio, improve data management, and provide enhanced user experience by maintaining the data security of their customers.

Identity and access management solutions help organisations to secure their social media solutions and protect their users’ identity & account-related information. They provide multi-factor authorisation and sends notifications of unsuccessful login attempts & any attempts to authenticate from any regions recognised as sources for frequent attacks.

The password management segment within the identity and access management (IAM) market is projected to grow at over 13% CAGR over the forecast timeline. The major factors driving the growth of password management solutions include the rising demand by SMEs, increasing stringent regulatory compliance, and risk management environment. These solutions also offer the convenience of usage as users can reset their passwords without the intervention of IT staff, save their time, offer enhanced security, and save additional costs. Employees working both in SMEs and large enterprises require numerous passwords to use personal and enterprise applications. These passwords must also be changed regularly for security and regulatory compliance.

The deployment of IAM solutions in manufacturing applications is estimated to grow at more than 9% over the forecast timeline (as illustrated above) due to increasing unauthorised access and insider attacks. Companies in the manufacturing industry operate in a highly competitive environment with thin margins. These firms face challenges in maintaining compliance with industry regulations, such as Sarbanes-Oxley, to enhance efficiency and reduce user administration costs. IAM solutions support these manufacturing firms to reduce operational costs along with protecting user identity and restraining unauthorised access. The customers, suppliers, partners, and employees of firms require efficient automated processes with system access to improve productivity and mitigate any insider attack risks.

Geographically, North America is projected to dominate the identity and access management market over the forecast timeline with a share of above 45% due to growing usage of cloud services, robust ICT infrastructure, and increasing trends of BYOD. Governments across the region formulated stringent programmes and invested hefty funds in R&D to explore the best systems for protecting their user data. The advent of cloud based IAM solutions acts as a prominent parameter for market growth.

Market players operating in the identity and access management market are focusing on offering new products and services to gain market share. Aggressive pricing strategy and innovations in IAM solutions are anticipated to be key strategies for market players to gain competitive advantage. Some key players include Sailpoint Technologies Holdings, Inc., Centrify Corporation, Dell Inc., IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Forgerock, CA Technologies, Crossmatch, Gemalto, Iwelcome, Okta, Inc., Oracle, Ping Identity, and Symantec Corporation.

Anixter to be Acquired by CD&R

Anixter International, a leading global distributor of Network & Security Solutions, Electrical & Electronic Solutions and Utility Power Solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) to be acquired in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $3.8 billion. The transaction will result in Anixter becoming a private company and is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2020.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, CD&R-managed funds will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Anixter common stock for $81.00 per share in cash. This represents a premium of approximately 13% over Anixter’s closing price on October 29, 2019, and a premium of approximately 27% over the 90-day volume-weighted average price of Anixter’s common stock for the period ended October 29, 2019.

“We believe this transaction is in the best interest of Anixter and our stockholders,” said Bill Galvin, Anixter’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “After careful and thorough analysis, together with our independent advisors, our Board of Directors unanimously approved this transaction with CD&R, which has a strong reputation and a track record of success in helping industrial distributors, like Anixter, prosper and grow. We are also pleased that this transaction appropriately recognises the value of Anixter’s customer relationships, technology and solutions, financial management and global market position. It’s a great outcome for Anixter’s employees, customers and partners. As a private company, we believe Anixter will have greater flexibility to focus on and accelerate our long-term strategic priorities.”

Nate Sleeper, Partner at CD&R, said, “Anixter is an exceptionally well-positioned industrial distributor with leading market positions and differentiated capabilities that deliver strong customer value. We look forward to partnering with the outstanding management team, led by Bill Galvin, on initiatives to grow the business and further strengthen its competitive position while maintaining Anixter’s distinctive culture grounded in operational excellence, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the company’s employees, customers, and global partners.”