Senstar, a leading provider of sensing and information management solutions for the protection of critical infrastructure, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a major oil pipeline project in Africa. The project will reinforce the security of a major pipeline.

“Senstar will provide a comprehensive perimeter intrusion detection system with the aim of equipping multiple sites with innovative fiber optic technologies. Together with local partners, we will work on a multi-layered solution that maximizes safety and security,” said Managing Director of Senstar, Fabien Haubert. “We will also be providing a range of support services to ensure a smooth, ongoing operation.”

With innovative perimeter intrusion detection systems (including fence sensors, buried sensors, and above ground sensors), intelligent video management, video analytics, and access control, Senstar offers a comprehensive suite of proven, integrated solutions that reduce complexity, improve performance and unify support. For over 40 years, Senstar has been safeguarding people, places and property for organizations around the world, with a special focus in utilities, logistics, corrections, and energy markets.

Motorola Solutions has acquired Rave Mobile Safety, a leader in mass notification and incident management that helps organisations and public safety agencies communicate and collaborate during emergencies. The company is based in Framingham, Massachusetts.

State and local governments and enterprises, including hospitals, rely on Rave’s cloud-native, customisable platform to support emergency coordination. Users can effectively communicate operational updates and alerts, such as health emergencies, lockdowns and evacuations, so people are better informed to take appropriate action.

The platform is also used by thousands of K-12 schools and higher education institutions across the U.S. Rave’s panic button solution can immediately provide real-time incident details and essential data like location to 9-1-1 call takers and first responders, and its incident management solution helps to coordinate the emergency response across school safety personnel, administrators and first responders.

The Rave platform will be integrated into Motorola Solutions’ technology portfolio, which includes access control, video security, body-worn cameras, critical communications, command center software and weapons detection solutions.

The global security market size is expected to reach USD 225.21 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The adoption of security systems is increasing as the systems offer high-quality surveillance with optimised distortion. Illegal activities across the globe and stringent government regulations have led to a surge in the adoption of security systems.

New managed security services provide a cloud-native approach to securing communications between users on any enterprise application and device, regardless of location. Increasing competition in the market, owing to the introduction of advanced technologies, is driving the need for automation in organisations at various levels. In addition, the growing number of infrastructures across the globe has resulted in an increased demand for safety systems, such as access control systems and video surveillance systems for real-time monitoring.

Increased demand for high quality video

The increased use of cameras in various locations, such as airports, railway stations, and ports, for security purposes, is driving the demand for high-quality video cameras that enable effective monitoring. These systems have further been largely used by the military and defence sectors for surveillance purposes. As one might expect, the video surveillance systems segment led the industry in 2022 owing to the wide range of applications and efficiency of these systems, such as operational efficiency and improved security at premises. According to the researchers, the demand for security systems has been increasing over the years because of increasing security and safety concerns and the awareness of the adoption of advanced systems with real-time monitoring support.

North American dominates

The analysis shows that North America dominated the industry in 2022 and will remain dominant over the forecast period. The governments of various nations, such as the U.S. and Canada, have initiated the implementation of security systems and place an emphasis on cross border safety

In terms of end use, it is the military & defence segment that led the industry in 2022. The increased threat of terrorism and cross-border intrusions have impelled the military & defence sectors of various nations to implement the best security systems.

Some of the key players particularly mentioned in the research include, Assa Abloy, Apex Fabrication & Design, Apex Perimeter Protection, Anixter, Perimeter Protection Germany, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Zabag Security Engineering, Teledyne Flir, and, Axis Communications.

Iloq has received a contract to deliver locking systems to all public schools in Gothenburg, which corresponds to 15,500 doors. The order is the largest so far for Iloq in Sweden.

During the first half of 2023, all doors of all public schools in Gothenburg will be equipped with Iloq’s S5 locking system. The locking system was introduced by Iloq in 2019 and is battery- and cable-free, just like Iloq’s other digital and mobile locking systems. The energy needed to confirm the authorisation and unlocking of doors comes from the kinetic energy generated when the key is inserted into the lock.

The locking system also minimizes costs and administration when it comes to key management. The administrator can update access to the schools’ doors in real time and members of staff only need one physical key in their hand to access them.

“We chose Iloq because costs and safety are important to us. We have previously had problems when an entire locking system had to be replaced when keys were lost. In the long run this is very costly; with Iloq, we avoid this,” explains Peter Granfeldt, Development Manager for security at the Elementary School Administration in the City of Gothenburg.

Iloq was founded in 2003 in Finland and has been an industry leader in the Nordics for a long time, and now also globally with a wide range of smart digital locking products. The order from Gothenburg’s Elementary School Administration is Iloq’s largest in Sweden and the second largest globally.

Berg Insight has released new findings about the market for home and small business security systems. The analysts found that the number of professionally monitored alarm systems in Europe is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5 percent, from 17.6 million in 2021 to reach 21.9 million in 2026. In North America, the number of monitored alarm systems is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 3.0 percent, from 33.6 million in 2021 to 39.0 million in 2026.

Cellular connectivity is rapidly becoming a standard feature in security alarm systems for the consumer and small business markets, and the estimate for the numbers of cellular IoT connections for home and small business security systems in Europe and North America is a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent from 39.9 million in 2021 to 55.2 million in 2026.

Security systems for small businesses and private homes can be divided into three main categories – local, self-monitored and professionally monitored security systems. When activated, a local security system emits an alarm sound to alert the surroundings and scare off intruders. Such systems are not monitored and cannot be accessed from remote. A self-monitored security system is connected and informs the owner of the premises upon activation by sending a text message, email or push notification through a smartphone app. A professionally monitored security system is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). When the system is activated, the ARC can dispatch a security patrol and contact emergency services.

Verisure is the clear leader in Europe

The traditional home and small business security systems market in Europe and North America is served by specialist home security companies such as ADT, Verisure, Brinks Home (Monitronics) and Sector Alarm; security service companies such as Prosegur, Securitas and G4S; telecommunications and cable television companies such as Comcast, Telus, Cox Communications and Bell Canada; as well as utilities, banks and insurance companies such as EPS (Crédit Mutuel), Crédit Agricole and Groupama. Traditional home security systems include professional alarm monitoring. Providers of DIY home security systems include Simplisafe, Frontpoint, Ring (Amazon), Yale (Assa Abloy), Arlo, Somfy, Scout Security, Canary, Minut and Wyze Labs. DIY security systems typically include self-monitoring as a standard feature and professional alarm monitoring services are offered as an option. ADT and Verisure are the two largest providers of professionally monitored alarm systems for homes and small businesses, with 6.3 million and 4.3 million customers respectively at the end of 2021. ADT is only active in the US while Verisure is active in 13 European countries and four countries in South America.

Shift to interactive systems

“The home and small business security system market in Europe and North America continues to grow steadily, driven by a shift to interactive systems which provide increased security and convenience for users”, says Martin Backman, Senior Analyst at Berg Insight. Security cameras are now also commonly part of new home security system installations, as the price for such devices has dropped in recent years and developments of video software has enabled a greater value for home and small business owners. “Modern security camera solutions can distinguish between humans, pets, vehicles and other objects and notify the user only if there is an actual threat to the premises” continues Mr. Bäckman. This provides an extra layer of security as the security system extends to the perimeter of the property. “Security and safety are basic human needs and therefore the home and small business security system market is anticipated to stay strong in the coming years despite high inflation and rising costs of living and doing business”, concludes Mr. Backman.

Dedrone, a market leader in smart airspace security, has made the highly strategic acquisition of Aerial Armor, a leader in counterdrone systems and integrator of drone detection hardware.

The acquisition will enable Dedrone to deliver a best-in-class technology platform to meet airspace security needs of the future as demand for counterdrone protections continues to increase in the US and around the world. As part of the acquisition, Dedrone will honour all Aerial Armor customer contracts and retain all employees. Customers of each company will continue with no changes to their solutions in the near term. Over time, Dedrone will leverage the best elements of both companies’ solutions, paving the way for customers to easily implement a multi-sensor fusion, CUAS (counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems) command and control (C2) platform into their security infrastructure.

Platform synergies

“We have created a fantastic rapport with the team at Aerial Armor and are greatly impressed with their technology, expertise and the strong customer relationships they’ve built. As we come together under the Dedrone umbrella, we’re confident we will continue to find great synergies in our respective platforms and bring new innovations to market for our customers,” said Aaditya Devarakonda, CEO of Dedrone. “All of our customers around the world will reap the benefits of our more powerful C2 CUAS system, powered by inputs from a multitude of sensors including radio frequency (RF), radars and cameras in a single UI.”

The move is the latest in a series of developments following Dedrone’s growth in recent months, including a rapid increase in global demand for detection, tracking, identification, and mitigation technology to protect airspace. Its platform and products, including Dedroneportable, are in use by governments around the world.

Dedrone most recently introduced Dedronedefender, a handheld, low-collateral mitigation tool designed for law enforcement in even the most complex of urban environments. Dedrone works across 40 countries and customers include four of the G-7 nation governments; nine U.S. federal agencies; more than 75 critical infrastructure sites; 20+ airports; and 50 prisons worldwide. The company actively provides counterdrone solutions for some of the most high-profile events around the world and works closely with more than 35 law enforcement agencies.

G4S Secure Solutions UK is set to create almost 100 jobs for those living near Suffolk, after the company won a security contract worth around £4.3m from EDF, as part of the Sizewell C nuclear plant development.

This contract for Sizewell C is expected to continue through 2023 and available roles will comprise of vetting employees; managing access to the site in the Access Control team, monitoring surveillance systems, the perimeter of the site and being involved in incident management reporting. G4S is also implementing the Sizewell C Induction Team. Almost 80% of these new roles will be filled by workers who do not hold a Security Industry Authority licence, meaning that they will gain a new qualification working for G4S funded by G4S.

Since July 2015, G4S has been working on a 10-year contract to provide security services during the construction of Hinkley Point C, the first new nuclear power station built in Britain for a generation.

“For over a decade, G4S has been committed to securing the UK’s critical national infrastructure and we’re incredibly proud of our work in creating thousands of job opportunities for local residents and sector specialists throughout the country.” said Alistair McBride, Strategic Account Director for G4S UK’s Nuclear Power and Utilities Sector.

The construction of Sizewell C is expected to take 10 years. Once constructed the nuclear power station will provide low carbon electricity for 6 million homes for at least 60 years.

a&s Middle East will launch in January 2023 as a bimonthly print publication and a web portal focused on physical security, cyber security, the Internet of Things, smart solutions, ICT, mobility, automation, and convergent technologies in the region of the Middle East.

As its name suggests, a&s Middle East will focus on the needs of security, tech, and entrepreneurial professionals in an emergent market that plays an increasingly important role in the global security and technological mosaic.

Both the magazine and the portal will feature industry news from across the supply chain, including special features, interviews, PR articles, comprehensive market and technology reports with a unique analytical angle, videos, and exclusive coverage of regional industry events.

a&s Middle East is the latest member of the venerable a&s family of magazines, publications, and web portals. This project was launched by Privus, a Dubai-based agency that invited the experienced a&s Group to use its long-term expertise in managing similar projects in making a&s Middle East come to life.

The first issue of the a&s Middle East will be distributed at the Intersec trade fair in Dubai. This is no coincidence, as this large-scale media project will open its doors both to advertisers and businesses that want to promote their products as well as to the readers and decision-makers who are always on the lookout for up-to-date information that can help them make the best of the latest trends across the covered industries.

Visit www.asmideast.com for more information!

Euralarm started a new initiative focusing on diversity and attracting new talent. The importance of the initiative is underlined by the rapid engineer retention and the lack of competent and qualified engineers.

The fire and security industries are industries with a long and rich history.  Major changes in the industry have always occurred with the advent of new technology. What has not really changed so much over the past 50 years, however, is the composition of the workforce. The industry is still recognized as a male-dominated field although in recent years there has been a positive shift in the number of women working in the industry. With this change, the industry is diversifying, and the need for women officers is growing.

Attracting young talent

With the baby boomers approaching their retirement date and the industry’s aging becoming increasingly apparent, it becomes increasingly important that the European youth is attracted to our industry to build a more inclusive, diversified, greener, and digital future.

“As the industry continues to grow and technology develops, attracting new talent into the sector is key to sustainability and improving the quality of working standards. The UK and Europe have struggled of late with engineer retention, lack of competent and qualified engineers, and attracting talent. Of late, there has been a shift in the sector where more and more installers are seeing the benefit of growing their own talent as a model that will provide sustainability for both the sector and their businesses. Over the last three years, we have seen the level of apprentice recruitment in the sector more than quadruple. This is the industry responding to the inevitable skills crisis where there is a reported shortage of around 30,000 engineers needed across the UK. With current levels of recruited apprentices, it will take over 25 years to resolve that skills shortage. We need to recruit and attract ten times the current level of recruited apprentices to resolve the crisis in as little as three years,” said David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security.

Diversity of thought

On the importance of attracting new talent, Chief Technical Officer Cristina Rivas Saiz of Euralarm industry member and leader in monitored security Verisure adds: “For us to remain at the cutting-edge of our industry, we must have a diversity of thought, perspective, and culture. That enables us to continue to deliver the next step-change technology to protect our customers even more effectively”.

“Attracting young people and young talent is an absolute necessity for our industry”, says Patrick Van Liempt, Secretary General of the Belgian security association ALIA Security. “In Belgium, we are trying to attract new talent for the security industry because of the shortage of personnel and the rapidly developing market. “Although many people still think that security is part of electrical installation, our industry no longer needs only electrical engineers. In fact, we are increasingly looking for other types of personnel as our systems are increasingly integrated with IT systems.”

Great initiatives, but fragmented approach

Many initiatives across the sector already focus on the industry’s diversity and inclusion. Initiatives like Worldskills are just one example of that. “However, the approach is fragmented and not driven by a central body or resource, and therefore, the positivity is quite often not shared widely enough”, according to David Scott. “For example, WorldSkills UK competition aims to shine a positive light on the sector and promote it to school children across the UK as a career of choice”.