Assa Abloy Opening Solutions has launched a video showcasing the possibilities BIM software offers in creating and visualising openings for complete door, frame and hardware schedules and specifications.

Openings Studio integrates with design software, meaning door assets can be designed, priced, manufactured, installed, inspected, and maintained from the same data, ensuring a seamless and transparent connection from design intent through to product in service.

This unique time and cost saving application ensures compliance, giving peace of mind. There’s the option to create door solutions from scratch, or select from a customised library, making it simple to create modifications to meet project specific standards.

Door solutions can be exported with ease through various types of reports in PDF, Microsoft Excel and Word formats. During construction, submittals can be reviewed, and materials can be tracked for ordering and delivery.

Additionally, requests for Information (RFIs) can be officially logged and managed, and directives can be changed. Cut sheets and installation guides are also housed within the programme.

Ideal for both new construction and existing openings, Openings Studio also allows facilities managers to have a single point of reference to inspect, record, maintain, and service doors, hardware, and access control systems.

Brian Sofley, Managing Director at Assa Abloy Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, explains: “Managing door projects in traditional spreadsheet programmes can be extremely inefficient and ineffective, with limited ability to share that information easily. Openings Studio streamlines communication in the estimation, specification, ordering and delivering process, making sharing information effortless.

Workflow and door projects are digitalised and all the door information is stored in the cloud, allowing it to be securely accessed from anywhere in the world via a desktop computer smartphone or tablet.”

“This is a gamechanger for building owners, facilities managers, contractors, locksmiths, distributors, consultants and more,” he concludes.

Tdsi is now offering the Microsesame Cube Supervision Software and Tillys Cube Access Control Hardware from its fellow Vitaprotech Group member Til Technologies to customers in the UK and Ireland. The Tillys Cube Access Control Units and Microsesame Cube Software are ANSSI certified, making them ideal for deployment across the critical infrastructure space.

Tdsi is now supplying and supporting the range of powerful Microsesame Cube Supervision Software and Tillys Cube Access Control Hardware suite of Multifunction Control Units and Specialised Modules.

John Davies, Managing Director of Tdsi commented, “Til Technologies has built up a highly impressive track record of developing and producing class-leading electronic security systems for building supervision, access control and intrusion since it was established in Aix-en-Provence, France, in 1988. With its respected ANSSI certification, the range perfectly complements our Gardis range of hardware and software, making it an obvious inclusion into Tdsi’s product portfolio in the UK.”

Denis Castanet, Managing Director of Til Technologies also commented, “We already have extensive reach across the French security market but are keen to build upon this in other regions as well. Tdsi is very well respected within the UK, making it the perfect partner to introduce and promote our products in this lucrative and impressive market. As Vitaprotech Group sister companies we already have a perfect synergy to deliver the best security technology in the UK and beyond.”

Til Technologies has an extensive portfolio of projects, with over 6,000 sites equipped with its products. These include large and well-known national French customers such as French Ministries, SNCF, the French Post Office ‘La Poste’, EDF, AXA, and the French military shipbuilder Naval Group. Its systems also protect a number of prestigious buildings, such as the ‘Tour First’ in la Défense, Marseille’s Vélodrome stadium, and Le Château de Versailles.

Axis Communications has released a multipurpose dome camera combining sharp video, two-way audio, actionable analytics, and LED indicators to help improve safety, security, and operational efficiency.

This all-in-one device makes it possible to optimise staff resources with proactive surveillance. For instance, it can be used for tele-sitting to observe patients in healthcare environments. Or to remotely detect and respond to loitering in retail environments.

The Axis Q9307-LV dome camera comes with coughing fit and stressed voice analytics adding an extra audible dimension to active incident management. It offers a great solution for remote monitoring and communication. With Axis Live Privacy Shield, it’s possible to remotely monitor activities while safeguarding privacy in real-time. In addition, it includes both an LED indicators and an Audio LED so it’s clear to see when the camera is recording or when audio is being used.

Including Lightfinder 2.0, Forensic WDR, and OptimizedIR, it delivers sharp 5 MP image quality under any light conditions. With four built-in microphones and a built-in speaker with echo cancellation, this all-in-one audio-visual device offers clear two-way audio communication with great noise suppression. This makes it easy to transmit and receive audio even from remote locations.

Some of the key features include: 5 MP video with two-way audio, preinstalled audio and video analytics, remote monitoring while safeguarding privacy, withstands chemical wipe-downs, and cost-efficient all-in-one-device.

This multipurpose dome camera promises to ensure a cost-efficient solution and with just one device to install, it offers one-drop installation. Additionally, video and audio analytics are included at no extra cost. It’s vandal-resistant and can withstand daily wipe-downs with chemical detergents without deteriorating the plastic. Furthermore, Axis Edge Vault, a hardware-based cyber security platform, safeguards the device and protects sensitive information from unauthorised access.

Brivo, a global leader in cloud-based access control and smart building technologies, has shared some of the findings from its 2024 Top Global Security Trends Report, detailing the most important changes for physical security teams across the globe.

This is Brivo’s seventh annual trends report, and it is based on 850 responses from security professionals across the U.K., U.S., and Europe, asking the opinions of physical security teams in financial services, technology & IT, manufacturing, retail and more.

Among the key trends detailed in the report is the desire to integrate new security technology with existing systems to better manage people and facilities. Another key trend is high expectations of AI technology, with a need for greater skills and access to data.

The report also shows the continuing evolution of the CSO (Chief Security Officer) role in leading AI implementations. While more important than ever, many lack the appropriate budget or authority to take full advantage of new technologies—posing a challenge to upgrading security systems.

Key findings from the report include:

• 36% of security teams lack confidence in their system’s ability to keep their employees and facilities safe, with this rising to almost half in front-line roles.
• Ease of integration with other systems was a bigger barrier to adopting new technology than budget constraints.
• 60% of large enterprises in the U.S. will invest over $1 million annually in AI over the next three years.
• 74% of security professionals see the CSO role as increasingly important in organisations but agree that increased authority and budget are needed to meet security objectives.

“This year’s report has a lot to be optimistic about,” said Steve Van Till, founder and CEO of Brivo. “The security industry wants to embrace new technologies, and there is investment and belief in new advances. At the heart of these changes will be the CSO, and they will need support to make this a success.

“Security integrators have an opportunity to be trusted advisors to the CSO. Getting technological change right and integrating it into the greater organisational strategy will require strong partnerships.”

The full report is available from Brivo and is called “2024 Top Global Security Trends: Empowering CSOs and security teams to enable technology and AI”.

Acre security, a global leader providing innovative security solutions, has completed a successful integration between Feenics Access Control Solution and its Enterprise Visitor Management Software. This integration, according to the company, marks a significant advancement in enhancing security protocols and streamlining visitor management processes for businesses and institutions worldwide.

The integration of Feenics and Acre Enterprise Visitor Management brings together two powerful solutions under one unified platform, empowering organisations to seamlessly manage access permissions while efficiently monitoring and tracking visitor activities. By bridging the gap between access control and visitor management, Acre security continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering comprehensive security solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern businesses.

Key benefits of the integration include:

• Enhanced Security: Organisations can strengthen their security measures and mitigate potential risks with synchronised access control protocols with visitor management processes.
• Streamlined Operations: The seamless integration enables smooth data flow between Feenics and Acre Enterprise Visitor Management, eliminating the need for manual input and reducing administrative burden.
• Improved Visitor Experience: Visitors can now enjoy a frictionless entry process, while administrators gain real-time insights into visitor traffic and activities.
• Customised Solutions: Acre security remains dedicated to providing tailored security solutions, allowing organisations to adapt the integrated Feenics and Acre Enterprise Visitor Management platform to their unique requirements.

“We are excited to announce the integration of our Feenics and Acre Enterprise Visitor Management solutions, which represents a significant milestone in our mission to deliver comprehensive security solutions. This integration underscores our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, as we continue to empower organizations with cutting-edge technologies to safeguard their assets and personnel,” says Caroline Laporte, Global Product Manager for Acre security Visitor Management.

“When customers work with us, they’re assured of the highest global standards in information security. This collaboration epitomizes the unified Acre portfolio, transitioning from a federation of brands to a cohesive entity. The Feenics and Access Visitor Management partnership is a prime example, enhancing customer support significantly,” adds David Liu North America Head of Sales for Acre Enterprise Visitor Management, commenting about the integration.

HID’s latest 2024 State of the Security Industry Report gathers together responses from 2,600 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel worldwide, across a range of job titles and organisation sizes representing over 11 industries.  The report delves into the underlying concerns driving upcoming innovations and the technologies that underpin them, helping security leaders to be proactive in adapting to evolving challenges.

Conducted in the fall of 2023, this year’s survey reveals six themes, as follows:

1. Mobile identity is expected to be ubiquitous in the next five years

Given the widespread use of mobile devices, momentum continues to build around their use in support of identity. Within the next five years, surveyed end users state that nearly 80% of organisations will deploy mobile IDs. Industry partners are even more optimistic in their outlook, stating that 94% of their customers will have deployed mobile IDs.

2. Multi-Factor Authentication is widespread, despite slow but growing implementation of Zero Trust

More than 83% of end users respondents said their organisation currently uses Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), mainly due to the vulnerabilities of passwords. For many, this represents the first step on the longer journey toward Zero Trust, an approach to security that calls for organisations to maintain strict access controls and to never trust, always verify anyone – internal or external – by default. Zero Trust has been implemented in 16% of organisations with over 100,000 employees and 14% in those with up to 10,000 employees, according to the survey.

With MFA being widespread, the eventual end of passwords is imminent. The creation of new standards such as FIDO (Fast Identity Online), which uses “standard public key cryptography techniques to provide phishing-resistant authentication,” will pave the path to new and more secure authentication options that will be part of a more robust Zero Trust architecture.

3. Sustainability becomes a growing driver in business decisions

Among HID’s survey respondents, sustainability continues to rank high as a business priority, with both end users and partners rating its importance at a “4” on a 1-to-5 scale. Additionally, 74% of end users indicate the importance of sustainability has grown over the past year, and 80% of partners reported the trend growing in importance among their customers.

As such, there will likely be a continued emphasis on solutions that minimize energy use, reduce waste, and optimise resource usage. A shift to cloud-based solutions and increased use of mobile devices are two clear strategies to reach these sustainability goals.

4. Biometrics continues its impressive momentum

In this year’s survey, 39% of installers and integrators said their customers are using fingerprint or palm print, and 30% said they’re using facial recognition. The momentum continues to build as 8% plan to test or implement some form of biometrics in the next year and 12% plan to do so in the next three to five years.

5. Identity management points up to the cloud

Nearly half of end users are moving to cloud-based identity management, with 24% already using it and another 24% in the process of implementing such systems. Industry partners say their customers face several hurdles here, including existing reliance on legacy/on-prem equipment (28%), lack of budget (24%), and cloud-based identities simply not being a business priority (21%).

6. The rise of artificial intelligence for analytics use cases

Conversations about AI have come to dominate the business landscape, and many security professionals see AI’s analytic capabilities as the low-hanging fruit to enhance identity management. Rather than looking to AI to inform the entirety of the security system, it’s possible to leverage data analytics as a way to operationalise AI in support of immediate outcomes. In this scenario, 35% of end users reported they will be testing or implementing some AI capability in the next three to five years, with 15% already using AI-enabled biometrics.

3xlogic has launched Vigil NVR Case Management, a cloud storage solution designed for sensitive video clips. The standalone solution provides cloud storage capability to Vigil NVRs, making it easier for operators to review, share, and store video clips in a single place.

Vigil NVR Case Management is ideal for installations requiring multiple stakeholders to oversee video footage and where clips may potentially include sensitive or personal video data, for example, public venues, construction sites, retail outlets and shopping centres, and warehouses and factories. Video is stored within the cloud in a centralized video archive with no additional hardware costs.

Operators no longer have to manage the retrieval of multiple video clips from different NVRs individually and instead have one platform for video management such as setting expiration dates and updating case files. Using georedundant cloud storage, Vigil NVR Case Management ensures that sensitive videos are safe and secure on the cloud, giving added peace of mind. These watermarked videos can be retrieved years after the event has occurred, to aid with criminal investigations and more.

NVR Case Management also provides a simple interface to generate expiring, sharable links to send watermarked videos to external parties, as well as a utility to view them.

Mike Poe, Director, Product Management at 3xlogic said, “We recognise the growing demand for cloud storage capabilities in the surveillance industry and have launched our NVR Case Management solution to cater to this. There is an increasing amount of sensitive video data being collected and stored, so it is crucial that organisations invest in a secure and reliable storage solution. With its cloud storage capabilities, centralised video archive, and scalability, 3xlogic’s NVR Case Management will help organisations keep up with technological advances today while futureproofing them for tomorrow.”

Vantage Data Centers has transformed its global security operations using Genetec Security Center unified security platform and Genetec Mission Control decision management system. The leading operator of large-scale data centres recently standardised on the Genetec unified platform to modernise security at 32 data centres in North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.

As the proprietary access control and video management systems of its data centres aged, Vantage experienced growing connection lags and increasing maintenance, and couldn’t easily integrate new technologies. After deploying the Genetec Security Center unified physical security platform at one location, they decided to standardise security infrastructure and practices worldwide on the Genetec platform.

Firooz Barakzai, Global Manager, Security Solutions and Standards at Vantage Data Centers, said, “Within Security Center, we’re managing about 500 cameras, 400 doors, 2,000 cardholders, a couple hundred intercoms, and other sensors per location. Having all that information in one centralised view has made it much easier for our operators to see what’s happening. It’s also user-friendly, so training new operators is faster.”

Automating decision management unlocks new operational efficiencies

Once all locations were unified with Security Center, the team implemented Genetec Mission Control. The decision management system helps operators quickly address pressing situations by guiding them through more than 30 standard operating procedures (SOPs). The system also automatically creates incident reports that can be exported and shared with stakeholders.

Open system eases integration

Vantage secures its properties with seven layers of security, various forms of authentication including biometric readers, cards, and pins, all connected to Security Center. Since all user activity is tracked and linked to associated video, Security Center provides an audit trail that strengthens compliance and optimises processes while saving time.

In addition, Vantage has used the Genetec Software Development Kit (SDK) to develop custom applications, like using a Soft Pin plugin to compile data from different systems and track key performance indicators across the business. This same tool enables the team to standardize system naming conventions to cardholder groups, dashboards, and reporting schedules across all sites.

Looking ahead, the team at Vantage intends to add more system integrations within Security Center, such as a human resources system, video analytics, and IT ticketing services software. They’re also trialing the Genetec Autovu automatic license plate recognition system to add another layer of perimeter security and exploring the Cloud Link Roadrunner enclosure management system to better manage access to server cabinets.