The preventive project “SafetyNet – Battle for Security” of the Split-Dalmatia Police Department is expanding its focus on informing and advising citizens about internet safety. The project is implemented through direct contact with citizens, providing them with information about real events and criminal reports, with a special emphasis on self-protection. Despite warnings, it has been observed that citizens do not always follow the advice of experts and the police regarding internet scams, which is particularly evident in December, the month of pre-New Year shopping.

Recently, there has been an increase in cases of “smishing,” or identity theft via SMS messages, where citizens receive fake messages from alleged delivery personnel with a link to enter personal information. There is also an increase in extortion messages via email, where an unknown person claims to possess intimate recordings and demands payment in euros to a Bitcoin wallet.

Internet investment scams have also increased. The victims are usually citizens of wealthier countries, and the perpetrators generally operate from outside those countries. After the initial investment and promised secure returns, victims establish contact with a personal broker. Problems arise when they decide to terminate the investment and withdraw profits. At that point, brokers request additional payments, citing various reasons such as commissions, taxes, or confirmation from the European Central Bank. After these additional payments, brokers and internet sites disappear, leaving victims without their money.

Therefore, the Split-Dalmatia Police Department advises citizens to: be suspicious of SMS or calls from companies that ask for personal information, officially contact the company, never follow suspicious links in SMS or e-mails, avoid unsafe websites, especially those that don’t use HTTPS in the URL address, never share bank card details like PIN, CVC or online banking password, never send money to an unknown person’s account, etc.

Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, announced it was named a leader in energy management software by independent industry analyst firm Verdantix in its Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023 report.

“Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global emissions and new levels of efficiency and sustainability can only be achieved through digitalization,” said Johnson Controls Chief Technology Officer Vijay Sankaran.

Energy Management Software 2023 report provides a detailed, fact-based comparison of the most prominent energy management software (EMS) vendors evaluated on their innovation and product strategy and customer satisfaction through product demonstrations, vendor responses and interviews.

Through its analysis, Verdantix found a dramatic improvement in energy management capabilities in Johnson Controls’ offerings since evaluations in 2015 and 2018. Through the launch of OpenBlue and a targeted acquisition strategy to bolster and deepen capabilities, Johnson Controls has enriched its offering with additional energy and sustainability management features.

OpenBlue Enterprise Manager (OBEM) is a suite of software solutions that form a comprehensive building performance management platform to power a new class of smart buildings that are secure, healthy and sustainable. Combining data from across the building’s systems and utility bills, and using advanced digital experiences augmented with AI, OBEM provides actionable insights and controls that save more energy and reduce more emissions than possible with isolated systems. It also helps customers in simplifying carbon disclosure reporting and regulatory compliance with building performance standards. With deployments across the globe-spanning commercial office spaces, healthcare, education, campuses and more, OBEM enables real-time data visibility across assets, people and processes, empowering customers to drive intelligent and proactive operations from a single pane of glass.

Nedap, a global leader in security solutions, launched a SaaS access control system which brings convenience and security together in one solution. Access AtWork meets the needs of companies looking to replace their outdated on-premises systems with modern and easy-to-use software that provides better insights with less effort and smaller investments.

With 46 years of experience in access control, Nedap introduced the world’s first web-based on-premises solution—AEOS—in 2000. AEOS is currently used by over 25% of Europe’s top brands, particularly those organisations in critical infrastructure. The launch of Access AtWork signifies a shift in Nedap’s history of tackling the most complex security projects, now also opening doors for small to medium-sized enterprises wanting to unburden their IT teams while managing physical access across multiple sites. “Access AtWork is the perfect addition to our portfolio,” said Daniël Nijkamp, Proposition Lead of Access AtWork. “With both AEOS and Access AtWork® in our portfolio we are even better positioned to help organisations solve their access management challenges, no matter their size, complexity, or preference in software delivery.

When Convenience and Security Come Together

Access AtWork has a unique authorization model that enables administrators to manage access based on hierarchical teams and zones, concludes Daniël Nijkamp. “The combination of this smart authorisation engine with a highly intuitive interface makes it easy for multiple administrators to manage access across different sites without the need for expert training.”

In addition, this solution is GDPR compliant and offers top-notch security measures, including redundant and secure hosting of data in certified data centres within the European Union. As organisations evolve and expand, Access AtWork adapts effortlessly, and the subscription-based model reduces upfront costs, provides predictable fees, and automated updates, and lowers maintenance requirements.

Access AtWork is available now. Learn more about it here.

The global smart home security camera market size is expected to reach USD 30.10 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 19.2% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

A combination of technological advancements and an increased emphasis on safety and security propels the significant growth in the market for smart home security cameras, according to analysts. They found that the emergence of the smart home ecosystem plays a pivotal role, with integration into other smart devices like doorbells, locks, and lighting systems forming a comprehensive and interconnected home security network. This not only enhances the functionality of individual devices but also contributes to the overall appeal of a smart and secure home.

 Affordability and Accessibility

 Heightened affordability and accessibility of smart home security cameras have made them more within reach for a wider consumer base. Intensified competition among manufacturers has resulted in more competitive pricing, further stimulating market growth. Particularly appealing to pet owners and caregivers of older individuals, these devices offer unique features and advantages. Smart cameras enable remote monitoring, allowing pet owners to keep a watchful eye on their pets and caregivers to supervise elderly family members from a distance. Real-time alerts and notifications furnish prompt information about potential security events, facilitating swift responses to emergencies. The seamless integration of smart cameras with broader smart home ecosystems augments the overall safety approach, ensuring seamless connectivity with other devices.

 Asia Pacific Markets Are Leading the Growth

 Some of the more prominent players in this market and included in the research are companies such as, ADT, Vivint, Simplisafe, Brinks Home Security, Xiaomi, Skylinkhome, Protect America, Samsung, Arlo, Nest Labs, Wyze Lab, Blink, Eufy and Ring. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.5% from 2023 to 2030. The region has witnessed widespread adoption of technology and high smartphone penetration. This technological savviness, coupled with the growing connectivity infrastructure, makes smart home security cameras more accessible and appealing to consumers.

Hikvision, a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of security products and solutions, has introduced, what is thought to be, the industry’s first 2 MP analogue cameras featuring an F1.0 aperture with the debut of the Colorvu Fixed Turret (DS-2CE70DF0T-MF) and Bullet (DS-2CE10DF0T-F) cameras.

These groundbreaking cameras provide high-quality, around-the-clock colour imaging with HD over analogue cabling for easy upgrade, 3D Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) technology, and extreme white light distance.

“Our new Colorvu 2 MP analogue over HD Cameras bring never-before-seen technology to the market, ensuring that security professionals can achieve the highest level of imaging performance without compromising their security budget,” said John Xiao, Vice President of Marketing, Hikvision USA. “With the ability to capture detailed, colour-rich imagery in even the most challenging lighting conditions 24/7 with Colorvu, these cameras set a new standard for situational awareness with extreme value.”

The new Colorvu Cameras each boast an impressive F1.0 aperture, allowing for full-colour imaging even in low-light conditions. Built-in 3D DNR technology further ensures that images are clean and sharp, reducing interference and noise for a more accurate representation of available surroundings. And with a white light distance of up to 65 feet, these cameras are engineered to provide bright and vivid night imaging, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed in the dark.

Both the Colorvu 2 MP Fixed Turret and Bullet camera feature a single port for four switchable signals, including TVI, AHD, CVI, and CVBS, and are water and dust-resistant for more durability in a wide range of environments.

At the recent ISC East show in New York, Quanergy Solutions, Inc. unveiled a new, joint solution in partnership with Bosch Security and Safety Systems. This seamlessly integrated solution stands uniquely poised to tackle intricate security challenges faced by critical infrastructure environments, including utilities, data centres, and airports, through the strategic combination of Quanergy’s Q-Track 3D Lidar solution and Bosch Video Systems.

“Customers are increasingly in search of advanced situational awareness and precision in video surveillance, regardless of its specific application,” said Gerald Becker, Vice President, Market Development and Alliances, Quanergy. “The integration of Quanergy and Bosch technologies provides an exceptional solution for detecting, tracking, and classifying moving individuals and objects within sensitive or secure environments with remarkable accuracy.”

Q-Track offers to redefine physical security by combining Quanergy’s long-range 3D Lidar sensors with advanced perception software to provide users with hyper-accurate 3D intelligent proactive awareness to reduce false alarms and save lives. With Q-Track, Quanergy raises the bar by setting new benchmarks for event detection, object classification, and tracking.

Quanergy’s new partnership with Bosch effectively allows Q-Track to send object location, both relative and absolute, to Bosch video cameras such as the MIC Inteox 7100i. This integration triggers a ‘Slew to Cue’ event-to-action workflow where the camera, powered by the actionable intelligence from the Lidar system can continuously track a bad actor throughout the entire perimeter of a site, regardless of harsh weather conditions or suboptimal lighting. More importantly, the solution can significantly reduce the number of false alerts and save customers hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly guard services.

The Bosch MIC Inteox 7100i camera has UHD “4K” resolution and a 12x zoom with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). It has flexible streaming capabilities powering three independent streams. It offers a high degree of strength and ruggedness for any outdoor application including traffic monitoring (bridges, tunnels, or highways), perimeter protection, city surveillance, and mining. And lastly, its optional illuminator with multispectral LEDs distributes IR light uniformly in the field to avoid dark spots or an over-illuminated scene.

The building automation system market is expected to reach USD 155.9 billion by 2028 from 88.4 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 12.0% during the 2023- 2028 period. New research report from Marketsandmarkets,  finds that this market is in the development phase at present, with the presence of multiple players offering building automation system technologies.

Energy efficiency is key

The rising costs of energy and the introduction of stringent energy efficiency regulations have underscored the importance of monitoring energy consumption within buildings. Building energy management software plays a pivotal role in enabling building operators and homeowners to continually oversee and assess the energy usage in structures. These systems not only alert building operators and owners about deviations in energy consumption but also furnish actionable insights for achieving energy savings.

Emphasis on becoming eco-friendly

The building sector stands out as a significant global energy consumer, consistently accounting for over one-third of the world’s total energy consumption. Additionally, it constitutes a substantial contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As noted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), in regions highly reliant on traditional biomass, energy consumption in buildings can represent an astonishing 80% of the entire regional energy use.

Significant opportunities for energy and cost savings

Building automation systems play a pivotal role in optimising energy utilisation, with a particular focus on HVAC and lighting control systems, known for their energy-intensive operations. According to IEA statistics, air heating, cooling, and water heating jointly constitute approximately 60% of global energy consumption within buildings, presenting a significant opportunity for energy reduction. Building automation systems offer the added benefit of automating HVAC and lighting systems, resulting in potential energy savings ranging from 5% to 30% of a building’s overall energy consumption.

Global players

The report profiles major players in the building automation system market such as Honeywell, Siemens, Johnson Controls, Schneider, Carrier, Bosch, Legrand, Hubbell, ABB, Crestron, Lutron, Cisco, Rockwell, Delta, Mitsubishi, Huawei, Beijer and Hitachi.