A large warehouse and distribution centre is benefitting from a 64-camera video surveillance system from Dahua Technology. The site is the main UK warehouse for Pets Corner, a nationwide chain of more than 150 stores dealing with pets, pet food and pet accessories.

The purpose built 43,000 sq ft warehouse in West Sussex was opened last year and supplies all the UK stores and the company’s online business. The site features solar panels for lighting, heating and electric charging points and operates a zero-landfill policy. The objectives for the surveillance system are to monitor the health and safety of workers, reduce stock damage and shrinkage, and protect lorries parked in the yard overnight.

The cameras – installed by Urban Security Systems & Fire – comprise a mix of Dahua Starlight domes and AI bullet cameras. All have a minimum of 5MP resolution and feature AI analytics, enabling features such as face recognition, ANPR, content analytics, incident detection, people counting and heat maps. Cameras have high image quality, bandwidth efficiency using H.265 compression and edge analytics, and excellent low light performance. Cameras were colour-matched to blend in with the interior of the building by the distributor of the equipment, Oprema. The cameras are installed internally and externally, at the top and bottom of each aisle and at all delivery entry and exit points. The system is monitored out of hours by Southern Monitoring.

Power is delivered over Ethernet cable, so reducing and simplifying cabling requirements. Using ePoE cameras enabled the integrator to run cable over 95m in distance, and in one case as far as 160m. Other Dahua equipment installed was a 64TB NVR, three managed ePoE Ethernet switches, and a 24-port Gigabit L2+ managed ethernet switch.

“Dahua’s level of support to us has been outstanding throughout the project, and we are also impressed with the build quality of the equipment,” said Andy Lloyd, Director of Urban Security Systems. “The PoE type cameras greatly assisted with the design and installation of the cable infrastructure and kept costs down, negating the need for additional PoE switches due to the length of cable runs.”

Graham Denny, Director of Logistics at Pets Corner, said: “When building our new National Distribution Centre, we wanted a system that would not only give us maximum security but assist in maintaining operational and health and safety standards. The results from Urban Security Systems are excellent, providing us with outstanding video imagery, which is simple to use on my laptop, desktop and phone. Therefore I would highly recommend both the Dahua CCTV system for anyone with a similar requirement and of course Urban for their great installation, large parts of which were carried out safely and professionally while we were operational.”

Securitas acquires Stanley Security, the Electronic Security Solutions business from Stanley Black & Decker Inc. for a cash purchase price of US $3,200 million on a debt and cash free basis.

According to Reuters this will be the company’s biggest acquisition to date and essentially Securitas will be buying back a company that it originally floated on the Stockholm stock exchange in 2006 called Securitas Systems, which, Stanley Black & Decker bought in 2011.

Stanley Security is a highly reputable provider of electronic security solutions with operations in 12 markets globally, expected to generate sales of nearly US $1,700 million in 2021, of which around 40% is recurring revenue.

Significant commercial synergy opportunities with over 500,000 existing as well as new clients, adds significant scale and innovation potential in the attractive US $70 billion electronic security market, and creates a leading platform to accelerate growth.

The acquisition is expected to complete in the first half year of 2022, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions

By acquiring Stanley Security, Securitas transforms the dynamics of the security industry by creating a unique combination of presence, connected technology and intelligent use of data. Securitas’ strategy is to deliver comprehensive, scalable, and innovative security solutions to meet its clients’ increasingly complex security needs. Stanley Security’s complementary offering of industry-leading tech-enabled security, together with complementary geographical coverage, is in perfect alignment with this ambition. The acquisition is a significant step towards Securitas achieving its ambition of doubling sales from higher margin security solutions and electronic security by 2023.

Headquartered in Indianapolis in the U.S., Stanley Security has a  30-year history of protecting its clients world-wide through an industry-leading portfolio of tech-enabled security services, ranging from alarm monitoring to systems integration, as well as a specialised healthcare offering. The acquisition perimeter includes commercial electronic security and healthcare solutions, where Stanley Security has deep expertise and an extensive innovation pipeline, but excludes door automation. Today, Stanley Security is one of the most recognised electronic security providers worldwide, with approximately 7,800 employees operating through approximately 200 locations and 16 monitoring centres in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Ireland.

“This means that Securitas becomes an exceptional player in the security industry. Together with Stanley Security, our largest acquisition in history, the profile of Securitas changes from a leading guarding company with electronic security and solutions capabilities, to a leading intelligent security solutions partner”, says Magnus Ahlqvist, President and CEO. “The future of security is built around the combination of global presence, connected technology and intelligent use of data and, together with Stanley Security, Securitas is perfectly placed to win in this environment. Together, our offering is cutting edge and we will be in an outstanding position to deliver safety and peace of mind to clients and communities around the world.”

-Served in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Germany, Iraq, Kosovo and is renowned for his extensive knowledge of the Middle East

– First time speaking publicly since retiring from the military where he served for 44 years

Dubai, UAE: Intersec, the world-leading emergency services, security, and safety event, today announced that Britain’s former Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Nick Carter will share insights from his extraordinary 44-year military career at the event.

In his previous role, Sir Nick was the professional head of the British Armed Forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He joined the Army in 1977 and during his career he served in Germany during the Cold War, in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, in Cyprus with the UN and in command of a battalion on operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.

He was the Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army since 2014, leading it through the most recent Security and Defence Review in 2015. He assumed the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff in 2018.

Speaking publicly for the first time since retiring from the military, Sir Nick will be speaking at Intersec which runs from 16-18 January 2022 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Commenting on his participation, Sir Nick said: “It is a pleasure to be invited to speak at Intersec, particularly during a time where our national interests and multilateral relations are challenged by an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Having served in some of the region’s most challenging environments, I look forward to sharing valuable insights and experiences at what promises to be a fascinating forum at Intersec 2022.”

Having served in the Balkans, Sir Nick went on tours to Iraq as a brigade commander in 2003/4 and repeated tours to Afghanistan between 2002 and 2013. He was responsible, on his first tour, for the initial design of Provincial Reconstruction Teams and the Afghan National Army. He commanded 55,000 NATO troops in Regional Command South during the Afghan ‘surge’ and in his last tour led the transition process with the now former President Ghani as the NATO mission’s Deputy Commander.

Alex Nicholl, Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s Head of Intersec, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Sir Nick Carter at Intersec 2022. Without question he brings a unique set of insights, not just from a security perspective but in terms of multilateral political relations, defence strategy and the challenges of leading through some of the most extraordinary geopolitical moments in recent history.”

The 23rd edition of the flagship event is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and will be staged under the theme of ‘Uniting the World’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’

The extensive development of the show will see the best minds in the industry participate in a world-class three-day conference, with six industry pillars: Global Security Leaders’ Summit, Protecting Future Connected Cities & Citizens Conference, Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure Conference, Agile First Responders Conference, Cyber Lab and with a dedicated KSA Focus Day.

Signifying Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, Official Supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), Dubai Municipality and the UAE Cyber Security Council.

For more information please visit: www.intersecexpo.com.

– Ethical hacker to disclose secret tactics at Cyber Security Lab held in partnership with UAE Cyber Security Council

– Forum to focus on investigative and forensic techniques, and alliances to prevent cross-border digital terrorism

Dubai, UAE: Intersec, the world-leading emergency services, security, and safety event, will welcome ethical hacker, Freaky Clown (FC) for the first time in the Middle East as a headline speaker at the event who will give deep insights into the world of cybercrime.

As a well-known ethical hacker and social engineer, FC brings a truly unique perspective to Intersec’s inaugural Cyber Security Lab conference, where he will talk about how cyber criminals circumnavigate access controls, how governments and organizations can identify their cyber weaknesses and what they can do to improve their security.

Intersec’s Cyber Security Lab, under the theme ‘into the unknown’, will focus on cybercrime, building cyber resilience, cyber threats, infrastructure investment, national security and international cooperation. It has been developed through a strategic partnership between Intersec and the UAE Cyber Security Council, which sets out to strengthen cybersecurity in the UAE and improve co-ordination and response times to potential attacks.

Commenting on his participation, FC said: “At a time when governments, individuals and organisations over the world are experiencing a steep increase in cyber security threats, I am in a unique position to be able to share inside information on the very people that they are being attacked by. I can help them become more aware, more secure and more capable of defending themselves and look forward to doing so at Intersect, an event which brings the industry’s most important stakeholders together under one roof.”

The Cyber Security Lab is one of six Intersec conferences being staged from 16-18 January 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Under the theme of ‘Uniting the world’s leading industry specialists for the safety and security of future generations’, the three-day program is packed with hard-hitting discussions featuring global leaders debating, and exchanging perspectives on challenges, strategic initiatives and cooperation to foster safety and security of all. The full programme features over 500 speakers – the largest conference platform for the sector on a world-class stage.

Alex Nicholl, Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s Head of Intersec, said: “Intersec’s commitment to bringing the brightest, most qualified experts to the stage in 2022 is exemplified by the attendance of FC. Perhaps more than most, he understands how cyber criminals think, how they operate and what tools they use to beat security controls. Having worked for major global organizations like Raytheon, the depth and breadth of his insight must be heard – and we are incredibly excited to hear what he has to say at Intersec 2022.”

Demonstrating Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, it is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and official Supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), the UAE Cyber Security Council and Dubai Municipality.

For more information please visit: www.intersecexpo.com.

Some of the largest smart home surveillance camera brands – Arlo, Blink, Nest, Ring, and Wyze – remain in control of the surveillance camera market, though a sea change is imminent, according to the latest research published in Strategy Analytics’ Smart Home Camera Market Analysis and Forecast – October 2021.

As differentiators other than the lowest camera selling price begin to fade for most brands it is becoming clear that device-only business models will become unsustainable. The hardware-first business model that has spurred tremendous growth in this smart home device segment for brands such as Wyze, Xiaomi, Reolink, and Eufy, as well as dozens of Chinese companies over the last five years is showing signs of winding down. Companies already well down the path towards software, such as Amazon (Blink and Ring), Arlo, and Google (Nest), will further entrench themselves at the top of the market, as well as enjoy a head start on earning them new customers and protecting their installed bases. Cameras from brands that either cannot or choose not to enhance their software offerings will be viewed as commodities, at best relegating these brands to the sidelines, at worst knocking them out of the camera market altogether.

Bill Ablondi, Director, Smart Home Strategies, added, “Strategy Analytics’ research into the consumer smart home surveillance camera market shows specifications, such as 1080p or greater video resolution, advanced night vision capabilities, and integration with digital assistant ecosystems are still important to consumers, though to a much lesser degree than in the past. Competitors in the smart home camera arena know that leadership in this market will soon be based on software and services more advanced than simply enabling cloud storage or remote viewing. The challenge ahead for camera companies will be determining how to successfully transition from selling camera hardware to selling security, monitoring, and safety features.”

Teledyne Flir has recently released new additions to its perimeter security portfolio for critical infrastructure – the Elara R-Series Commercial Ground Security Radars and the Triton FH-Series Multispectral Fixed Cameras.

A first for Teledyne Flir, the Elara R-Series is the ideal commercial radar system for industrial commercial applications, increasing detection coverage, auto-tracking, dynamic mapping and position intelligence of intruders. Part of the Teledyne Flir premium Triton family of cameras, the Triton FH-Series delivers both intrusion detection and video verification through its high-resolution thermal and visible imaging capabilities. These features plus the ability to capture vital details using 4K imagery enables security personnel to properly identify and assess situations, significantly improving response time.

The Elara R-Series introduces compact ground radars built to work within larger security systems to provide advanced warning of both human and vehicle intrusions beyond the fence line, while continuously tracking and precisely locating multiple targets. This series consists of two models, each designed with regional certifications in mind: the Elara R-290, which is compliant with United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines, and the Elara R-190, which is Conformité Européenne (CE)-compliant for Europe. The Elara R-290 features a 90-degree field of view, up to a 400-metre range for vehicle tracking, a 200-metre range for human tracking, and provides wide-area protection as well as situational awareness beyond the fence line; the Elara R-190 offers a 300-metre range for vehicles and 125 metres for humans. These products are designed for reliable detection in all weather and lighting conditions. The radars’ auto-tracking feature helps to direct pan-tilt-zoom surveillance sensors in the right direction; the radars also help expand coverage area and significantly minimize false alarms. In addition, both models can provide security personnel with precise, real-time data, 24/7.

The Triton FH-Series are ruggedised, multispectral fixed cameras that integrate industry-leading thermal imaging for detection with 4K visible imaging to help identify intruders in harsh perimeter security settings. Critical infrastructure facilities will benefit from technological advancements, such as highly-accurate convolutional neural network (CNN)-based video analytics for both thermal and visible spectrums, which minimize false alarms and aid in geo-locating threats for superior situational awareness. The on-board scheduling tool gives the operator the ability to select the type of analytics used to make detections based on time of day, business hours, and seasonality. Additionally, radiometric versions of the Triton FH-Series can be used for early fire detection applications to help critical sites operate safely and efficiently.

“Teledyne Flir is committed to equipping security directors with technologies that empower them to protect their facilities and personnel at mission critical sites,” said Kai Moncino, Global Business Development Manager, Security at Teledyne Flir. “The Elara R-Series and Triton FH-Series are built to enhance perimeter protection, providing accurate detection and alerting of threats. As with all of our new products, the Elara R-Series and Triton FH-Series are designed with the latest cyber-hardening features for added security and peace of mind.”