September 3, 2026
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Home Articles posted by a&s Adria (Page 209)

COVID impact ramps up global access control market potential

The latest report from Marketsandmarkets on the access control market includes the suggested impact of COVID-19 on the sector, including global forecasts to 2025 projecting a growth from USD 8.6 billion in 2020 to USD 12.8 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8.2%. Increasing deployment of wireless security systems and rising adoption of IoT-based security systems with cloud computing platforms are the key factor that is driving the growth of the access control market according to the researchers.

Biometric readers are expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Biometric technologies are used to measure different physiological parameters for identification and authentication purposes in access control systems. The market for biometric reader-based access control systems has been further categorised into fingerprint recognition, palm recognition, iris recognition, face recognition, and voice recognition. Biometrics is one of the fastest-growing technologies used to secure perimeters. This technology enables identifying a person’s physical characteristics to provide controlled physical access to infrastructure. This technology is being increasingly used in government facilities, manufacturing units, power stations, defence establishments, and enterprises.

The analysts find that the commercial vertical is the largest end user of access control systems, including facilities such as enterprises and data centres; BFSI; retail stores and malls; and entertainment areas. Manned security for all physical locations is difficult and expensive. The demand for access control systems is increasing since they reduce the need for manned security to a greater extent, thereby reducing security expenditure. These factors are encouraging commercial facilities to adopt access control systems to protect people and properties.

Geographically North America is the largest market, as it is considered by the researchers to be more advanced than in other regions in terms of the implementation of access control systems. Companies in the US, Canada, and Mexico are making efforts to enhance their expertise and develop innovative access control systems and services. This provides them with greater competitive advantage to increase their share in the region’s access control market. The growing number of cyber and malware attacks in the region has compelled several governments and security agencies to enhance security features in their transactions through the deployment of RFID and biometric technologies, which is further contributing to the overall growth of the access control market.

Major companies involved in the development and supply of access control and mentioned in this latest report include, Dormakaba, Ass Abloy, Johnson Controls, Allegion, Honeywell, Identiv, Suprema, Thales, Bosch, NEC and Idemia.

https://www.infosek.net

Welcome to INFOSEK CONFERENCE 2020

We kindly invite you to the biggest information security event in Slovenia, INFOSEK CONFERENCE, happening in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, from the 30th of September till the 2nd of October 2020. INFOSEK is in its eighteenth successful year of providing information security professionals from around the world an opportunity to learn about the latest trends, events and issues in the information security and information risk management. The conference is the most comprehensive and important forum on Information Security in the region.
We cover topics such as PSD2, business continuity (resilience & recovery), cyber security, ethical hacking (threats, vulnerabilities, attacks, malware, phishing, social engineering), digitalization, authentication, crypto currency, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, GDPR, ect. You can find more about this year’s programme on our website https://infosek.net/en
We are sure the event represents a big opportunity for every individual and a company to gain knowledge and to network with potential customers.
Every year we host guests from major banks, insurance companies, big health institutions, educational institutions, different governmental organizations and big private companies from IT world.

The conference will take place in HIT hotel&casino Perla, but due to the situation we will also host the conference online. We will be streaming every session live, online participants will also have the possibility to actively participate in the sessions.

For more information about the event please contact maša.arčon@palsit.com
https://infosek.net/en

It is surprisingly easy to switch to electronic access control

London, September 2020 — Ever settled another bill for changing your office locks and thought, “there has to be a better way”? In fact, there is. Access control and digital keys are easier and more cost effective than you imagine.

While mechanical keys will keep a building secure, they lack the flexibility to adapt to your changing security needs. Standard physical keys are difficult to track without a key management system. Some types of key are quite straightforward to cut without permission. And when a key goes missing, changing a standard mechanical lock or rekeying is time-consuming and often expensive — 100€ or more every time*.

Yet the alternative — electronic access control — can seem daunting, over-technical and potentially expensive. But this need not be the case, if you choose the right wireless access control system.

The basics of digital locking
Everything begins with the credential — the digital key your building users will carry at all times. Credentials can be plastic smart cards, fobs, wristbands or even stored in a secure mobile phone app. The best wireless access control systems let you choose the format to suit your business, and even to mix different types of credential in the same building.

When you swap keys for credentials, you bring enhanced flexibility to building security. Most importantly, if someone loses their credential, you can cancel it with a click. You’ll never rekey or change the locks again.

Electronic access control is highly flexible. So, if some staff should have access everywhere, but others only through the main door, it is easy to program the system to allow just that. Plus, you can program and reprogram credentials and wireless door locks as many times as you like: employees leaving or joining the company create very little workload.

If the worst happens and there’s an unexpected incident — unauthorised intrusion or theft — an access control system helps you handle it quickly and efficiently. Because everyone carries personalised credentials, your system software will tell you who went where and when. Yet another occasion when wireless access systems save you time and money.

Install fast, activate immediately
A modern, wireless system with digital door locks, programmable credentials and user-friendly software (to keep it all running) is easy, affordable and fast to install. It takes only one day to switch a medium-sized office from mechanical lock-and-key security to digital credentials. There’s no major cabling, no major adjustments around your existing doors and almost no noisy, dirty drilling.

All over Europe — at offices and sports venues, schools and university dorms, co-working spaces and medical practices — SMARTair wireless locks have transformed workplace security. SMARTair battery-powered cylinders, escutcheons, security locks and readers are fast to fit and can protect almost any door or access point, from boardrooms and storerooms to fire escapes and lifts. Little or no training is needed to use SMARTair’s management software: when your installer departs, hardware and software will be ready to go.

We spend six months of our lives looking for lost things**. Metal keys don’t have to be among them. SMARTair wireless security turns mechanical labours into key-free, happy workplaces.

There is an easy way to make your security stress-free. To learn more, you can download a free SMARTair® screen paper now at: https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/smartair-forget-about-keys

ISE 2021 to be held on 1-4 June

Following on from yesterday’s statement that Integrated Systems Europe was being postponed we are pleased to confirm that the show will take place at the Fira Gran Via, Barcelona on 1-4 June.

The decision to reschedule the exhibition from early February came after a period of consultation with exhibitors, the venue and local authorities. In recent weeks we have been working closely with the venue and local suppliers to ensure that the move can take place as smoothly as possible.

From our many conversations, it is clear the industry can’t wait to get back together doing business face to face and we are committed to delivering an engaging and safe in-person ISE in 2021. The postponement of the event to early June provides additional time for the industry to adapt and restore balance. We look forward to hosting the AV community in our new home in Barcelona.

Watch out for our regular updates on all that is taking place at ISE 2021.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mike Blackman
Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events

How ComNet tackles Cybersecurity

By Iain Deuchars, General Manager, ComNet International.

Our perception of cybersecurity focuses on attacks through firewalls to corporate entities across the internet. Still, we do not think of an attack directly via network equipment.
IP security and surveillance systems put physical network connections in both secure and unsecured locations. Unsecured locations provide ample opportunities for the would-be attacker, however secure locations must be viewed similarly. The attack could originate from an individual fully entitled to be within the secure area.
The threat to the network comes from a physical connection to the active network devices, or by removing an edge device and attaching unauthorized equipment in its place. Electrical Ethernet ports are based on industry standards, so connecting to these is simple. As every laptop today has such a connection, the probable weapon of attack is readily available.
Ethernet switches are offered as managed or unmanaged, where managed platforms have many features and allow the user to configure and remotely monitor the device. For security, managed units offer facilities to prevent unauthorized entry to the network. Unmanaged forms do not. Thus managed Ethernet switches should be used throughout the network.
It tends to be the case that the simplest features offer the best security, and with Ethernet managed switches, that persists. The ability to disable a switch port that’s not being used might seem an obvious security feature. Still, it is one that a lot of network operators fail to employ and may not even know exists on their devices. The rules, as you can imagine, are straightforward. If the port is not being used, disable it so no unwarranted party can plug directly into your network. If the port needs to be used for legitimate traffic in the future, then simply open it via the management system. And while we’re talking about the most straightforward features being the best, the default username and password of the device should be changed to a username and password commensurate with the security policy. No point in employing all this security if it could be changed by our attacker gaining access by merely reading the manual!
For active connections, ComNet’s Port Guardian feature can be used to shut a port, based on a loss of link being a potential attack. The feature can be further expanded to shut down ports if power is lost to the active device – just in case our attacker is smart.
We must secure access to the physical devices, so add a sensor on the door of equipment enclosures. An open door provides an easy target for any attacker and allows the elements to damage your enclosed equipment. And remember, it doesn’t just need to be active equipment. If the enclosure simply houses cable management, that provides an opportunity to break into the network. Secure enclosures are an absolute must in unsecured locations!
To conclude, managed Ethernet switches should always be used for maximum security and will provide remote configuration and monitoring. The managed device must be configured based on the security levels and operational requirements of the user. Those who ignore the basics of network security and opt instead for cheaper, unmanaged devices, are exposing their networks to the risk of hackers.”

About ComNet:
ComNet products come with a lifetime warranty, making ComNet the supplier of choice for transmission requirements. All products are designed, built, and tested in the USA to hardened industry requirements and have proven reliability operating in challenging environments of -40 and +70 degrees. These include petrochemical refineries, oil and gas pipelines, and heavy and light rail transportation. ComNet is an ACRE company. For more information, visit www.comnet.net.

Enabling Smarter Factories with the Industrial Internet of Things

The manufacturing sector is more productive and efficient than ever thanks to the industrial internet of things (IIoT). And it couldn’t come at a better time — global manufacturing output growth has been decelerating since 2018, according to quarterly reports published by the United Nations

By a&s International

Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The UNIDO attributes deceleration to increased risks and uncertainties including tariffs and trade tensions that have affected the world’s industrialized economies.
Despite a slowdown in manufacturing growth, the rise of smart factories and adoption of IIoT and cloud technologies have grown. By using the vast amount of data generated
from the Internet of Things, IIoT and cloud, manufacturers are able to predict equipment breakdowns, prevent unplanned downtime and reduce costs. However, due to this, understanding what to deploy, how to implement it and what the benefits of IIoT and cloud technologies are is critical.

Industrial Internet of Things Improves
Smart Factory Productivity
The industrial internet of things is driving the growth of smart factories and helping manufacturing be more productive and efficient.

Today’s smart factories are growing thanks to the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), which has brought about the industrial internet of things (IIoT). As global manufacturing output slows, productivity and efficiency have become increasingly important. By using IIoT technologies, manufacturers and smart factory operators are able to collect and analyze data that enable them to optimize operations.
More Data, More Benefits Keeping up with technological innovation comes down to the aggregation, integration, processing and analyzing of data on IIoT platforms, said to Richard Howells, VP of Solution Marketing at SAP. “This is why factories are investing in IIoT in order to realize business benefits across the entire company. Many factors, applications and technological developments drive these business benefits and therefore demand for IIoT,” he said.
Nowadays factories are adopting digitization strategies that use IIoT technologies to capture additional sensor-based data (e.g., vibration, environmental, etc.) to augment their existing manufacturing data sources and provide additional insights. “This additional insight identifies opportunities to improve the operational efficiency of the asset or process as well as the health of the asset… We also see IIoT technologies being used to obtain data from older manufacturing equipment, that may be 20 to 30 years old,” said Enrique Herrera, Industry Principal for Manufacturing at OSIsoft.
However, manufacturers don’t always know exactly what type of data to collect when they want to start collecting it.
Patrick Smits, Marketeer at Ixon explained, “Objectives are not always clear from the start but evolve during the process. Using
an established IIoT provider with roots in manufacturing obviously helps lowering entry in Industry 4.0.”
IIoT in Practice The entire lifecycle of production can benefit from the many features and functions of IIoT solutions. This ranges from product design to monitoring of inventory levels in the supply chain.
Howells explained that predictive maintenance data gathered from IIoT can help minimize production downtime, which can cost a manufacturer tens of thousands of US dollars a minute, depending on the industry.
Utilizing predictive maintenance not only reduces downtime, it increases productivity by alerting operators to maintenance needs
before problems occur. Remote access that allows factory operators to connect to machines for remote support and remote assistance is another way IIoT can help optimize production processes. Smits pointed out that the ability to troubleshoot and monitor machines, as well as deploy new programmable logic controller (PLC) software over VPN, becomes much easier and saves a lot of unnecessary expenses when able to do it remotely.
More advanced use cases of remote access involves monitoring machine production or factory production, or using metrics and KPI’s to improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), Smits added. To do this, factories must start by logging machine data and then combine and analyze this data in order to optimize the production process.
Using IIoT solutions can also help manufacturers identify the root causes of quality issues in their production, which can also cut into productivity and lower customer satisfaction. Howells pointed to edge-to-cloud closed-loop machine learning and advanced manufacturing execution systems (MES) to reduce quality issues.
“An enterprise can leverage IoT usage and performance data to continuously improve its products. Right now, this requires engineers to analyze the data, but as more products get connected and companies leverage more AI techniques, generative design software could automatically create improved designs based on IoT data,” Howells explained.
Future of IIoT in Manufacturing While adoption of IIoT projects is growing, IHS Markit reported that currently half of all deployments fail; failure of a project is defined as not meeting the customer’s expected payback. High failure rates are often
attributed to inflated expectations and a failure to gather support and cooperation from critical personnel within the company. Half the companies deploying IIoT projects expect to see payback within one year and are not getting the payback they expected, as many of these projects can take much longer to generate returns, according to IHS Markit.
Still the annual IIoT node shipments are expected to hit 224 million units in 2023, a 100 million unit increase from 2018, as reported by IHS Markit. However, to ensure more successful deployments of IIoT projects, providers must work together with manufacturers and smart factory operators to manage expectations and develop projects that can be executed successfully.

Choosing the Right Cloud for the Industrial Internet of Things
More manufacturers are looking to use cloud computing, but choosing between a public or private solution depends on need.
More manufacturers are deploying solutions that build upon the industrial internet of things (IIoT), making operators also look to cloud computing technologies.

Benefits of Cloud Computing for IIoT
There are many benefits of using cloud computing for IIoT. One being that a cloud service provider handles all IT-related issues such as security, scalability, user management, storage, hardware and connectivity aspects, leaving factories to focus on what they do best: manufacturing, according to Patrick Smits, Marketeer at Ixon. Manufacturers are also leveraging cloud computing to take advantage of resourceintensive, advanced analytics and machine learning technologies. “Using cloud technologies, manufacturers can gain additional insights, which are identified in the cloud using advanced analytics and then fed back to the operational environment. This expertise may also come from industrial equipment manufacturers that offer third-party digital services to manufacturers,” said Enrique Herrera, Industry Principal for Manufacturing at OSIsoft.
Already many manufacturers have started to adopt machine learning models and are applying them to smart manufacturing data, according to Richard Howells, VP of Solution Marketing at SAP. Doing so allows manufacturers to minimize repeatable tasks capable of being performed by software, improve the accuracy and predictability of maintenance schedules, and drive first-time-right results across the organization. Furthermore, since cloud environments offer almost unlimited compute and processing power, it can also provide a similar interface for work from the different points of view of different employees, engineers and senior management.
Cloud-based networks of connected assets are also enabling manufacturers to shift their business models to be more prescriptive
than reactive. By creating a central repository for collecting and tracking critical information, cloud computing further allows
manufacturers to develop smarter products to capture more information about how they are operating and performing around the globe, Howells added. Additionally, there are economical and environmental benefits to using cloud computing for IIoT. Using an IIoT cloud platform with shared infrastructure can save costs and lower overall power consumption.

Private or Public Cloud?
There are several main considerations when choosing between public or private cloud for IIoT. These include economies of scale, speed to provision and integration to manufacturing enterprise solutions. It is also important to understand what the user’s end goal is for utilizing cloud.
A private cloud could be ideal for customers who want their own dedicated platform with isolated data, storage and network environments. Since a private cloud would require the manufacturer to take care of essentials such as security, scalability, flexibility, data integrity, back-ups themselves, it is a good solution for those looking to attend to their own data security, privacy and protection needs.
On the other hand, a public cloud solution means the above-mentioned essentials (e.g., security, flexibility, etc.), are all taken
care of by the cloud provider. This may be preferable to some manufacturers.
Overall, worldwide spending on public cloud services is expected to more than double between 2019 and 2023, according to a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC). Discrete manufacturing — manufacturing of distinct items — accounts for a big portion of this growth.
Howells pointed to another opportunity, one that brings the benefits of private and public clouds together: a multicloud. “Multi-cloud is a strategy in which companies can store and manage their software in the cloud environments that best fit with their chosen environment and software, such as AWS, OpenStack, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform or others, helping companies realize both cost savings and efficiencies,” he explained.
Regardless, no matter which cloud model a smart factory chooses, the top priority should be understanding the individual business needs and matching that with the top benefits of each type of cloud environment.

User Education will Promote Growth
For now, one of the main challenges is convincing manufacturers that cloud solutions are more secure than most private cloud or on-premise solutions, where local IT departments are responsible for the security and management of data. Cloud providers actually have a much better track record in securing data and connectivity options than most local IT departments, according to Smits. Ultimately, more in-depth training and education of cloud benefits could help ease the concerns of manufacturers and further propel adoption.

IIoT Infrastructure and Hardware Requirements in Smart Factories
Ensuring the success of a cloud-based IIoT system in a smart factory requires the right network infrastructure and proper security
measures. It is estimated that there are currently over 1 billion connected IIoT devices being used in factories around the world. And although the IIoT market is growing exponentially, there are several barriers to even greater success. Deploying the right network infrastructure for cloud-based connected industrial internet of things (IIoT) solutions and securing that network are key to the market’s future growth.

From Fieldbus to Ethernet to Wireless
Today’s factories overwhelmingly use the industrial ethernet and fieldbus protocols for connectivity to manufacturing equipment.
Traditionally, the industrial sector used fieldbus — a group of industrial computer network protocols specifically designed for communication between industrial controllers and sensors — to connect to the industrial network; however, industrial ethernet
is set to overtake fieldbus as the primary network medium in 2020, according to IHS Markit.
Fieldbus technologies offer various advantages such as determinism and more physically robust connectors and components, but are not optimized to be linked up to a wider network setup or the internet, IHS Markit said. Their report added that the transition from fieldbus to industrial ethernet is key to future-proofing and benefiting from IIoT solutions. Industrial ethernet is not
only faster than fieldbus, but also supports the IP addressability required for IIoT.
The growing adoption of industrial ethernet is also expected to further enable the transmission of larger volumes of data due to the greater bandwidth compared to fieldbus. IHS Markit believes this will ultimately bring in more technologies like the cloud, which will “supercharge” the IIoT business.
Wireless technologies could also help advance connectivity in factories, although uptake has been slow. Enrique Herrera, Industry Principal for Manufacturing at OSIsoft explained, “There is significant investment by the telecommunications companies to push 5G and private LTE technologies into factories, but adoption is still in its early days.” These telecommunication technologies, though, may be more readily accepted with remote or geographically dispersed assets.

Securing Cloud and Network Infrastructure
Faster connectivity is allowing manufacturers to utilize cloud-based solutions, but security still remains a concern. Ideally, IoT connectivity hardware should not be directly accessible via the internet. Software on these devices is often not updated regularly, which makes exposing them directly to the internet not a good idea. This is especially true nowadays with vulnerability scanners like Shodan.io available to everyone and anyone.
Making sure every factory router is completely secure is more important than ever. To do this, Ixon’s strategy is to block all incoming traffic on the router. “On boot Ixon’s IXrouter sets up a secure VPN connection to our cloud platform to make sure all communication to and from the platform is well secured. All other access options are disabled by default, so there are no ports from the company network or internet that can be abused by hackers to gain access,” said Patrick Smits, Marketeer at Ixon.
From a cloud perspective, cloud providers are able to secure both the cloud infrastructure and on-premise hardware with highly skilled employees that monitor and remedy security issues full time, protecting the complete infrastructure against all possible attacks. These types of end-to-end solutions can be very well secured, according to Smits, because the complete IIoT ecosystem, including hardware, connectivity and cloud infrastructure, is controlled by the cloud provider.

Smart Factories are Adopting More As-a-Service Models
The utilization of the industrial internet of things has made it possible for smart factory operators to take advantage of various new as-a-service models to increase productivity.

More companies have started offering new “as-a-service” business models for the manufacturing sector. Increased adoption of the industrial internet of things (IIoT) and cloud technologies are giving manufacturers the ability to combat challenges like unplanned downtime and deferring upfront costs. Loses from unplanned downtime can cost manufacturers millions of dollars. Utilizing new applications enabled through IIoT can help overcome challenges such as this. IHS Markit estimates IIoT solutions can reduce unplanned downtime by around a 30 percent.
Many companies have started or plan to offer new service models, such as maintenance as a service or product as a service. These business models are empowered by IIoT platforms by sending alerts if a product requires maintenance or attention, among others.

Maintenance as a Service
Collecting large amounts of maintenance data has been made possible by the Internet of Things (IoT) and IIoT. The collection and analysis of this data have led to a new business model, maintenance as a service (MaaS). This service model gives smart factory operators and manufacturers the ability to remotely monitor machinery, create a smarter workforce and provide insight into the lifecycle of equipment.
Utilizing MaaS can help smart factories deal with the problems brought on by unplanned downtime. Furthermore, the information can be used to determine when maintenance should be scheduled before a breakdown occurs. By doing this, smart factory operators can shift from a preventative maintenance approach to a predictive maintenance approach.

Product as a Service
One factor hindering the growth of smart factories and IIoT solutions is the cost of equipment. The product-as-a-service (PaaS) business model allows smart factory operators to pay for processes and operations instead of purchasing the equipment outright. This takes the stress off manufacturers when it comes to maintenance expenses, product failures and ensures they will not be stuck with obsolete equipment when it comes time for upgrades.
The current market for PaaS is still pretty new, but the continued expansion of IIoT solutions and smart factories should propel development. For now, some PaaS providers are delivering value-added services to machines already owned by manufacturers to help ease the transition. In this case, PaaS providers could add performance monitors such as sensors and controllers to existing equipment. The data collected could then be used to improve efficiency and even the product itself.

Automation as a Service
The global automation-as-a-service (AaaS) market is expected to reach US$6.2 billion by 2022, according to a report by MarketsandMarkets. Growth is attributed to the increasing demand for automation and the increasing adoption of cloud technology. In the manufacturing sector, AaaS allows manufacturers to shift from slow manual processes to faster automated ones. It is being increasingly adopted for various workflows, such as vendor management, purchase order management, request for quotation and inventory management, according to MarketsandMarkets. Using AaaS increases productivity and reduces operational cost by eliminating routine manual and clerical tasks, and minimizing the manufacturing lead time.

Future of As-a-Service Models in Manufacturing
More as-a-service models are sure to emerge as the need for efficiency, productivity and cost savings continues. Already models for IoT as a service and IIoT as a service exist and will likely continue to grow.
All of these as-a-service models, though, require the collection, sharing and processing of data. Concerns about data security and data ownership could pose challenges to adoption. However, the proper education, training and cooperation between all related parties on how to handle and secure data will ensure it is used to the advantage of manufacturing and not against it.

Interview: Dmitry Danilchenko, Owner, Partizan Security

Mr Danilchenko, thank you for sparing your time to address to our readers. Could you present yourself, your educational and professional background, when did you start working for Partizan Security, what duties are your performing, etc.?
Hello and thank you so much for that great opportunity. I’m sure it will be an interesting talk and useful for our readers. I started Partizan Security in the year 2008 when the majority of players were still using black and white CCTV cameras. So we saw that potential and introduced color 420tvl cameras to the customers. At that time they were quite expensive and the quality was stunning. Now, of course, it sounds like a joke, but it was only 12 years ago. Technologies of CCTV are changing very fast.
My background was the financial sphere first, then satellite business and then we came to security and CCTV field with the help of our existing customers. Since then I have dedicated myself to the Partizan brand and our international expansion. I’m attending exhibitions, arranging meetings and calls with customers, initiating new products and marketing strategies. Well, together with my team, every day, step by step we are making Partizan brand big and known in every corner of our globe.

Partizan has been doing business in security industry for 12 years now. What were your most important milestones, where do you manufacture and sell your products and solutions, are you pleased with the current position at the market, how many people do you employ, revenue, etc.?
For now i can admit 3 main milestones for us.
2010 when we started to offer network recorders and cameras and hence we start making our own software by creating software R&D team.
2014 we created our own CCTV Cloud, which can connect any camera or recorder without static IP and also can keep your recordings safe in our Cloud servers with high privacy and protection level. By the way it is still one of our main advantages and helping us to perform and gain more users, due to speed and reliability of our p2p connection comparing to other solutions in the market.
2019 we launched our new generation of mobile apps for CCTV and at the end of the 2019 it gain Best Mobile App Excellence Award at Adria exhibition, which was a bit of surprise for us, but still we are very proud that our developments are so highly admited.
By the way, all milestones are related to software and its not an accidentially. Bcz you know, in CCTV business in my opinion 90% of success is your software and 10% is hardware. Finally, every customer is using your app every day and almost never touching your camera 🙂
For now, in 2020 Partizan Security is the company with offices in Prague, Czech republic, where we have HQ and main EU stock, production line and showroom. In Kyiv, Ukraine we have our main R&D center together with marketing, logistics departments and sales team for Ukraine and CIS region, and Dubai, UAE with dedicated sales and technical team for Middle East region. Also we have multiple contract assembly lines in China to produce price aggressive products and we are making it with our full quality and technical control. All together we are team of almost 60 professionals, who are making and selling our products to more than 50 different countries with annual growth 20% and more.

Your company produces equipment and develops software for modern security systems. Could you present your product portfolio and core technologies?
Our main product is CCTV which we producing and selling the most. Then access control, bcz market size for that is much less. And both solutions we are benefit with our award winning aplications, which are bringing completely new experience to our customers. Nowadays there are quite a lot of chinese players with similar apps and software logic, not always simple for european mindset. Also there are old european or US players, which are professional and good, but sometimes too complicated and expensive. Our task is to fill that huge market of small and middle customers who need something simple, reliable and with affordable price. Of course we have many big or even huge projects, but our main flesh and blood is installing companies who are making installations every day and working with home and business owners, well, regular people like you and me actually

If you can select one, what would be your flagship product or product series and why?
Now its Starlight 5Mp series of our IP cameras. Why? Because for its price it can bring to any customer 150% of performance, quality and efficiency. It deliver nice colour image even in very low light conditions and resolution is good enough to have pretty much detailed images 24/7. Together with our NVRs these cameras can be smart and react only according to some presetted scenarios. For example – only if there is a human in the scene or if anyone crossing the virtual line and so on.

As you said, Partizan offers AHD. Is your equipment designed to fit third party components? And are your products ONVIF compliant?
Yes, we are trying to be as open as possible. I do belive that integration to the existing systems is same important as to aquire some new projects. Thats why all our analog recorders and cameras are hybrid – they can support AHD-CVI-TVI protocols made by our competitors. Same situation with IP systems. Partizan Security is official member of Onvif since many years and we are fully compliant with this protocol of course. So having any third party system or VMS with support of relevant version of Onvif protocol you can be sure that it will work with us without problems.

For home users you have special offer – Wi-FI Kits and DIY Cloud cameras. Tell us more about them?
Yes, this is a small part of our business actually, bcz Partizan is trade only brand and we are not working with end customers directly. But many of our customers are working with retail chains or directly with end users by the box moving model. So they are asking from us some simple and reliable products which end customer can manage to install and launch themselves if they cant afford professional installation. So for that puropose we producing wifi series of our cameras and kits, including even cameras with 4G support. So you can use them in remote areas without landline internet or wifi.

You market Partizan Cloud as the world’s first complex solution for cloud storage of video backup straight from the cameras manufacturer. What are the benefits of that for users?
First of all users wont have any hassle with integration of hardware and software bcz they are created to work together. Second benefit is that we are manufacturing both parts, so can make user experience as easy as it is possible. For example you can add Partizan camera to the cloud within 2 minutes if not faster just by scanning QR code or running Wireless Connect wizard. Then user can pay for Cloud storage 7 days and more straight from the app, or he can stay with live video stream which is free of charge. Knowing some existing cloud solutions in the market, they are always have some limitations with third party cameras, like not all firmwares supported, not all models, not all functions, some times you have to buy additional equipment to make it running and so on. Partizan Cloud and Partizan Cloud cameras is much more simple for anyone.

An increasing security concerns are related to cyber attacks. How secure are your products from data theft?
Well, if majority of CCTV customers are still keeping default passwords, we can do the most protected system in the world, but they will be still in a big risk for sure. From our side we do all what we can in this regards. We are closing all unnecessary ports and protocols, which hackers are normally using to connect to your device, we are GDPR compliant and using only GDPR compliant data centers to store our Cloud and other data. I can not say we are NASA grade protected, but definitely we dont have any unexpected and hidden „super-access“ to each our camera, which majority of chinese suppliers have according to the latest CCTV privacy scandals in the US and not only. Also each our camera sending data only to our servers and in case of highly secured objects you can easily switch all our protocols off to make sure your camera is 100% safe and not sending any data to external sources. In this case your cameras will be recording to the local recorder and all you secrets will be with you. Of course if you will not forget to change your password

What vertical markets does Partizan focuses on? And could you present some of the most important case studies in Europe?
As i said, our final customer is installer and installation company. So our philosophy is to make them happy with our products. It should be easy and nice to install for installers and simple to use by end users. That is the main key in my opinion.
Partizan security systems was installed in many places within these years. Mostly it was small and middle businesses along with residential and government projects. But we are proud to be main CCTV system for Carlsberg new construction site in Denmark, for Tesla showrooms in Czech republic, for National Bank and Government of Macedonia, for biggest EU retail chain stores like Spar, Tesco, Leroy Merlin, Mobelix etc.

Corona virus pandemic has affected the entire world. Security industry and market are no exception. How did it affected your company, what changes did you have to make? Did you offer some new solutions or products or do you intend to?
Yes, for many players and businesses 2020 is very complicated year. But not for us. In this year we are showing significant growth, much bigger than 2019 for example. Bcz people have more time to look for something new and promising while sitting at home. Some of them are trying to support local european manufacturers, which is also helping us a lot. And finally we introduced to the market our new face recognition and temperature measurement device, which became real bestseller straight from the start. It can recognise your face, recognise that you wearing the mask, it can measure your temperature and then if connected to access control system and to the internet it will react accordingly. For example, it will not let you in and will notify responsible person by sound or email or push notification in case if some restricted situation detected (visitor dont have face mask or have high temperature). Many businesses are starting to be concerned about their workers and visitors health, so they more likely to invest money in such a products to make sure someone with high temperature will not come over and infect entire team. Our solution again is a good combo of hardware with precise european temperature sensor and our software, bcz now you can receive push notifications of visitors without mask or with abnormal temperature straight to your email or messenger for example. Soon we will release our new version of mobile app and you will start receiving push notification to the app about any suspicious event like this. All this makes this system not only useful from the health point of view, but it is helping to manage so many things in easy way! Actually our device can be fully integrated with any access control system and bring an additional protection once you need it. Also its very flexible and customizable, which is good for the customers who want to promote it with their own brand.

Related to that, what will be trends that will definy security market in years ahead of us and what will be your answer to them?
Im sure covid story will bring strong health trend to the security industry. Especially to the access control market. Bcz now it will be high demand for the solutions which can not only identify some person, but also to identify how healty is this person (means how safe for other people). Now its started from the hardware checking – like our solution with temperature sensor, face recognition, mask recognition and access control according to that. But im sure very soon it will be big demand for the contactless video analytics of peoples behavior, movement and so on to create some outbreak maps, rules, distinguish sources and spreading of epidemy and so on. So, like i said, i do believe security systems have very big future and very huge role in that game of crime prevention along with health problems prevention.

Your opinion on Adriatic region security market? What are your plans for this area, are you looking for regional partners, how do you plan to expand market share?
Im think Adriatic region is one of the most promising in the whole Europe. Its developing area with huge potential and we want to be there and built our brand as soon as it possible. Its not about the size of the market, its about potential opportunities, which are definitely there and in next 5 years we will see big changes, im sure. We already have good presence in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia. Meanwhile we are actively looking forward to find more partners in other countries and of course with existing partners we still have so many things to do

See the heat: ADJ Fire and Security and Hikvision thermometric cameras reduce fire risk at unique Recycling Lives waste management facility

Hikvision’s Thermometric temperature-measuring thermal bullet cameras are revolutionising fire safety for Recycling Lives, a truly unique company which combines its charity work with operations as a scrap metal and waste recycling company, thanks to innovative thinking from ADJ Fire and Security.

Recycling Lives is a very special business. Ostensibly a recycling and waste management operation, they actually use this commercial element to support and sustain charity programmes for offender rehabilitation, residential support and food redistribution. It’s a genuinely effective approach to social aid, and one that has earned four prestigious Queens Awards and numerous admirers, including Andy Moore, managing director of security and fire experts ADJ Fire & Security Limited. ADJ works with Recycling Lives to provide technology-based solutions to minimise risk at its sites.
“The whole company’s called Recycling Lives, because that’s what it does,” Moore explains. “It gives people a second chance, people who have come out of prison or who are homeless, and they help them back into society. It’s providing help to people who really need it, by giving them jobs and if necessary rehoming them if they need somewhere to stay until they get their own place. They’re a special company, definitely. ADJ is extremely proud to be associated with a company like Recycling Lives.”
Recycling Lives has sites across the UK was founded, and is run, by second generation recyclers, time-served experts with a wealth of industry knowledge, insight and contacts. Their charity and social enterprise teams provide residential accommodation for the homeless, help to reduce reoffending and redistribute food, directly supported by recycling, recruitment, compliance and waste management businesses. As a result, they create more than just environmental and financial value from their activities: they provide significant social value too.

Fire risks
At the Recycling Lives site in Preston, on Longridge Road, ADJ was asked to help devise a solution which could help the Recycling Lives staff prevent and detect fires on-site during and out of office hours, explains Moore.
“These fires can happen within waste piles on site, and can end up burning inside without any notification,” he says. “They can seriously flare up when the pile is disturbed. There are batteries stored on site from depolluted cars and these can also be a serious fire hazard if ignited.”

ADJ Fire & Security is a Hikvision Gold VASP partner, and works closely with Hikvision to devise intelligent and efficient smart technology-driven solutions for its clients. In this case, ADJ, Hikvision and Recycling Lives collaborated on the development of the ideal system for Recycling Lives’ specific requirements. ADJ recommended the use of Hikvision’s Thermometric thermal bullet cameras, specifically the DS-2TD2136T-15 model. These specialist cameras are designed to detect even minor changes in temperature using thermal imaging technology.
The camera uses cutting edge image processing technology, including Adaptive Automatic Gain Control, Digital Detail Enhancement, 3D Dynamic Noise Reduction, and a Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference of less than < 40mk. Its powerful behaviour analysis algorithm enables automatic smart detection including Line Crossing, Intrusion, and Region Entrance & Exit, and it also provides a reliable temperature exception alarm function and advanced fire detection algorithm. Temperature measurement range is -20℃ to 550℃ with ±2℃ accuracy.
The thermal imaging module provides 384 x 288 resolution, a high sensitivity sensor, and supports contrast adjustment and shutter adjustment in various modes. There are 15 palettes of adjustable colour available, and because this is a thermal imaging camera rather than a conventional CCTV device, there’s no need for additional lighting.
Nineteen thermometric cameras were installed initially at the Preston site, with more set to be added in future.

Powerful technology
“Cameras are located in the high-risk areas where fires could break out such as the plant rooms and stockpiles, shredder, and depollution areas,” Moore says. “When the cameras detect an increase in temperature that signifies a potential fire risk, they automatically raise an alarm and alert the client to the issue. That allows them to take action much more quickly than relying on traditional video or other forms of fire detection – they can react immediately even to the risk of fire breaking out.”
Recycling Lives compliance manager Dave Gallagher says: “The prevention of fire, and early detection of any fire that may break out, is of critical importance to protecting our people, infrastructure and the local environment. Whilst our risk controls have proved effective year after year, the opportunity to invest in new technology that enhances our ability to react fast in the event of an emerging fire hazard was one that was not to be missed.”

Tangible results
The results have been tangible, Moore says, and have impressed some influential people. “Recycling Lives recently had a visit from the Environmental Agency as part of a routine inspection,” he says. “The EA were impressed with the standard of risk management and controls on the site, including the recent investment in fire detection technology. As a result, the EA Director of Regulated Industry was invited to site to view the systems in place.”
The success of the Preston solution has prompted Recycling Lives to engage ADJ to implement similar systems, over time, at all their other sites across the country.
Dave Gallagher says: “We’ve been impressed with how ADJ Fire & Security Ltd and Hikvision have worked collaboratively with us to identify how the technology can best be employed to reduce risk and look forward to the enhanced protection the system provides. ADJ Fire and Security Ltd are adaptable, commercially aware and completely comprehend the commercial realities of the scrap metal industry. They are reputable, reliable and respected by local authorities and institutions and moreover, they are a pleasure to work with.”

Genetec recognised as World’s fastest growing access control company

According to Omdia (Informa)’s latest access control report, Genetec Inc., a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, is the fastest growing access control software provider in the world. The report showed Genetec rising to 4th position globally (up from 6th and 8th positions in 2018 and 2017 respectively) with a growth rate of nearly 5 times the pace of the market.

“Genetec was the fastest-growing software provider in the Americas in 2019, increasing by over 1 percentage point to reach over a 9% share and maintaining its 3rd place ranking in this region. The company’s rise over the past several years has been emblematic of a broader trend favouring vendors that actively sell first-party access control and video surveillance solutions. The Synergis access control software from Genetec readily supports integrations with VMS software and video analytics,” said Bryan Montany, Physical Security Analyst at Omdia.

Enterprise, government, education, and public safety organisations are moving away from proprietary solutions in favour of secure access control solutions that are part of a unified physical security platform. This allows them to make clear, timely decisions based on a richer understanding of their security and operational environment. Delivering on this requirement has resulted in Genetec not only outpacing market growth for access control, but also continuing to be recognised as the global leader in video surveillance software according to another recent Omdia research report.

“While much of the industry has been concerned with traditional access control needs, Genetec has taken a radically different approach that looks beyond the door,” said Léon Langlais, Vice President, Product Engineering at Genetec. “As the market moves away from legacy technology, enterprise customers want to invest in a modern, open-architecture access control solution that enables their organisations to not only strengthen their security, but also extract actionable intelligence to improve operations.”

Genetec offers an open platform solution that supports a wide range of 3rd party access control devices. The company’s flagship access control system, Security Center Synergis, enables customers to leverage existing network and security equipment investments, while also offering flexible deployment options based on the latest in information technology to ensure enterprises have flexibility while optimising their spend.

Importantly, the company has developed access control solutions that go beyond the traditional confines of facilities and doors to enable customers to extend the functionality of the access control system. These innovations include physical identity management (Genetec Clear ID), access control for unmanned or remote infrastructure, and the ability to leverage access control intelligence to improve daily operations and facilities management.

Pyronix launches new wireless magnetic contact

Pyronix is releasing its latest security peripheral, the MCNano-WE wireless magnetic contact.

The Nano-sized contact has been designed to deliver exceptional long-life security performance that’s designed to disappear with out-of-sight installation.

“We’re really pleased to introduce such a convenient and flexible solution, that users may even forget is there,” Laurence Kenny, Pyronix Marketing Manager, said.

Fitting inside the frame of a UPVC door, the MC Nano-WE is a simple-to-fit and highly convenient solution for any residential or small-commercial installation.

Engineered for satisfying fitting, the MC Nano-WE provides a compact and stylish contact with multiple security use cases.

“The contact is designed for multiple purposes, whether securing entrances and exits, or to generate a voice push notification to the user via the app should the medicine cupboard or a specific area be accessed,” Laurence said.

He continues: “We’re delighted to bring such a peripheral to the market, that increases not only the opportunities of our customers, but the level of interactivity and value in the security system that the user ultimately receives.”

The MC Nano-WE’s compact and aesthetic design makes it a stylish device that can both blend-in and complement any property.

Produced almost 66% smaller than the existing MC1 Mini-WE, this brand-new device offers the same level of security protection, but in a much more modern and smarter package.

This new peripheral offers a wireless range of 250m in open space and a 2-year battery life.

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ISSN 1986-5

a&s Adria – professional security magazine for providing total security solutions is a monthly circulating publication and a licenced representative of Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media for Adriatic region, which consists of following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, FYR Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.