Vertical Solutions

Feature Story: We visited the European headquarters of ZKTeco

May 9, 2022

Initially conceived as an international company, ZKTeco started out modestly, with only its products being sold abroad, without services and customization for customers. But then, at the global level, something happened that, contrary to expectations, opened new opportunities for many companies – the global economic crisis. In 2008, many security companies decided to try their hand at making it big in international markets. ZKTeco was among the pioneers.

By: Damir Muharemović; E-mail: redakcija@asadria.com

Our editorial team has covered many events in the past sixteen years. Having published no less than 178 issues of a&s Adria magazine so far, we witnessed the emergence and maturation of technologies, innovations that caused controversies only to become commonplace, the disappearance of former industry greats who were thought indestructible, the rise of new companies, we talked and hung out with the professionals who, in fact, can be said to have sown everything that has grown in the past decades. But, after all those years, one thing manages to impress us every time – a story about a name and reputation that grow together out of the vision that everything is possible, regardless of the challenges. In search of one such story, this time we went to the suburbs of Madrid, a city and a corporate “forest” in which countless businesses flourish. Madrid is also the seat of the European headquarters of a company whose access and entrance control is an evergreen tree in this corporate forest. We want to tell you a story about ZKTeco.

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Creativity from all over the world

The European headquarters and warehouse were founded in 2010 and have been located in Madrid for twelve years. A pioneer in biometrics and RFID technologies, ZKTeco is now a multinational company with close to 3600 employees. From the beginning, its founders and engineers sought to independently develop algorithms to verify the biometric characteristics of the body, which over the years has become an ecosystem for identity verification and smart security. Both hardware and firmware as well as software are produced internally, at research and development centers scattered from from the India to Xiamen, Dalian and Dongguan. Today, the company’s offer is rounded up not only with biometric and RFID modules but also with access control systems, turnstiles and barriers, video surveillance, metal detectors, and integrated security solutions. At its European headquarters, where the service, sales, development, and financial departments are located together with a warehouse whose capacities will soon double by moving it to a new location, ZKTeco’s partners and distributors can receive all the necessary services. From there, they provide support to other European subsidiaries: British, German, and Italian offices, whose numbers they also intend to increase.

The economic crisis is an opportunity to change strategy

We were greeted by an extremely pleasant team of people, led by Even Wang, General Manager of the European Business Group at ZKTeco, in whose company we felt as if we were members of the personnel. Socializing took place until the afternoon and was spent in pleasant and useful conversations. Their friendly synergy, we noted later, is certainly one of the wheels that powers the company’s business on European soil, about which we will learn more later.

“ZKTeco started as a small company, with two or three people”, says Mr. Wang from the outset of our conversation and continues: “The founder is Mr. John Che. The business started as a technology firm that was researching biometrics. At that time, biometrics were not so common in the world, so they tried to design one biometric module to offer to the market. Step by step, they decided that they could develop a time and attendance terminal. So, some money was raised to move to Shenzhen, a zone known for its electronics industry.” The company started to grow but that was not enough for a major breakthrough in the market. The business was mainly done in China, and only its products were sold abroad, without service and customization offered to the clients. But then, at the global level, something happened that, contrary to expectations, opened new opportunities for many Chinese companies – the global economic crisis. In 2008, Chinese companies decided to try their hand at making it big in international markets in order to prevent financial problems. “ZKTeco was among those who adopted this strategy at the earliest stage. In the beginning, we had a small team of people, but we were also lucky that the demand for biometric systems increased sharply”, adds our interlocutor. ZKTeco made a difference in the market by offering an attractive price, a broad range of products, and quality service. Clients knew that they could count on people who are always at their disposal, which is very important in business.

This resulted in rapid business growth. They are proud, they say, of the decision taken at the time. But it was not easy. “You go to another country where no one knows you, you have to learn to live there, find customers, talk to them in your poor English. I joined the company in 2010. I initially worked in India and I know how hard it is for a Chinese company to start from scratch outside their home country. Language, laws, taxes – these are all great challenges. But we were trying to gradually adapt, find local people and partners, understand each other and bridge the cultural gap. I can say that after 14 years of development we have a great team. We now have 3600 employees, of which 450 are internationals. I think that’s the largest number of foreign employees in a Chinese company,” says Wang.

Going public

Another important turning point for ZKTeco happened in 2020, and it was marked by yet another trend among Chinese security companies – going public. The higher inflow of capital enabled them to further strengthen and expand. ZKTeco started the process of the initial public offering (IPO) a little earlier in order to become a public company and increase capital investments in expanding production and opening new offices. “The money will mainly be invested in research and development, especially in the software segment. The second part will be related to the service network; we will open five new offices, new warehouses and continue to employ local people. I think we need to have local people in every country because the value is to offer services to our clients locally”, explains Wang. ZKTeco currently has 38 subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas, but they want to open many new ones. In Europe, they plan to open offices in France, Romania, and Poland, as well as in other countries.

People are the greatest resource

Just in time when the company went public, the coronavirus pandemic broke out. Yet again, as it happened in the past with the economic crisis, ZKTeco has found an opportunity to offer new solutions to its customers, this time in the form of a cost-effective and adaptable solution for measuring body temperature and detecting the wearing of protective masks. “We got a lot of great clients, such as Telecom Italia and Spanish Telefonica, as well as the opportunity to gain access to many banks and government institutions. That helped us a lot to get through the difficult period in 2020. We have kept and even increased the number of employees. We kept working in all countries and continued with our development and research. We even opened our office in the UK during the pandemic. Even in the most difficult period in May 2020, our team continued to help our clients in Italy”, recalls Wang.

The greatest strength in the focus on entrance control

Although it initially presented itself as a biometric company, ZKTeco is always trying to adapt to different applications. “We are currently fully focused on developing entrance control technologies and solutions, including those handling the passage of vehicles, people, and luggage. I think that we can offer a high value in that. As much as AI and IoT change the world, people have to start from the entrance. The entrance is a key point for home automation and office security. For the past twenty years, ZKTeco has been working on one thing only – entrance control. We try to offer the best hardware and software solutions. That is why we have no less than 10 product ranges today. Our greatest strength lies in this type of focus”, says Even Wang, General Manager of the European Business Group at ZKTeco.

Breaking stereotypes

How ZKTeco managed to expand its business in Europe year after year was the topic we discussed in detail with Kinga Zarzyck, International Business Development Manager with ZKTeco, who was both our host and the person behind the organization of our visit. For years, ZKTeco kept facing one obstacle that prevented them from stepping out of the widespread stereotypical mold. In the eyes of its users, the company was mostly seen as a supplier of access control and time & attendance hardware. In recent years, however, they have focused on delivering solutions, ranging from offering consultancy and adapting solutions to project requirements to assisting with their implementation. “Our goal in the coming years is to change this perception because ZKTeco is changing and growing constantly, not only in terms of its revenue but also in terms of its solutions and their quality. To achieve this, we have opened local branches in Germany, Italy, and the UK in the last five years. We also have salespeople in Romania and Poland. We intend to open local offices in these countries as well as in France in the near future. It is very important for us to be close to our partners and to react faster and adapt our solutions to the needs of the local markets “, explains Zarzycka.

In order to provide the best possible customer support, the European branch expanded the most in the segment of its pre-sales and project departments. It is, in fact, a new segment of ZKTeco that was created not so long ago to support partners chiefly through products. While distribution is important, integration is another channel that needs support. They currently work with more than 100 partners across Europe. Upon asking whether they work directly with installers and integrators or with distributors only, we were told that everything depends on the country. “We also work with integrators, and not only with the larger ones that have the capacity to develop their own solutions. Yet, it all depends on the strategy in a particular country and how that country is organized. Not every distribution channel in a country can function at the same level or be as good as, for example, the Adriatic region”, says Zarzycka, citing the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the UK as examples of countries focused mainly on integration with security system management software.

More solutions for the customers

Our host is also in charge of organizing business in our Adriatic region. She has been cooperating with partners from Southeast Europe for four years, and for that purpose, she was a guest at our Adria Security Summit on no less than three occasions. “We have tried to get even closer to our partners throughout these years through the support received at the Adria Security Summit. We plan to attend the coming Summit in October in Croatia. It’s one way to meet potential partners and companies we could work with. It is not just about offering them our access control technology, which is our best-selling product in the region, but rather about introducing them to other solutions we can offer, such as parking ramps and turnstiles. In addition to small and medium-sized enterprises, we are also getting involved in other larger and more complex projects with varied and non-standard requirements”, says Zarzycka. To achieve this goal, they are constantly investing resources in educating partners and customers about new series of products and solutions. This is done while simultaneously working on integration with different security platforms, which means that they will be able to access the projects not only with ZKTeco’s hardware but also with a full range of specialized products aimed at other complementary security segments. Regarding the manufacturing segment, ZKTeco will soon move its warehouse to a new facility in Madrid. So, it’s all about a comprehensive approach whose proper implementation will make success inevitable.No delays in production and delivery

When it comes to storing products with the aim of timely delivery in difficult times marked by the chip shortages in the global market, ZKTeco claims that they have prepared for the lack of materials and stored a lot of raw materials. “We have no production delays, and in addition, we have doubled the stock of all the products we sell here in Europe, so we have no problems with delivery. It’s all just a matter of proper planning. I am sure that with a larger warehouse, the situation will be even better, that is, it will be an even smaller problem than it is now “, says our interlocutor. However, due to rising raw material prices and multiplied transport costs, they were forced to revise the prices of their products. But, on the other hand, they compensated for this by extending their warranty to three years.

Showroom Tour

To get acquainted with the entire range of ZKTeco’s solutions, we visited a beautifully decorated showroom, which is divided into product segments, from access control and time and attendance to smart locks for hotels and smaller housing units. We were greeted by Mr. Robertodino Sebastiano Leita, an amiable International Presales Engineer with ZKTeco Europe. As an excellent connoisseur of ZKTeco’s products and solutions, he introduced us to each product group and answered all our questions in detail.

ZKBioSecurity – the Core of ZKTeco’s Solutions

At the heart of ZKTeco’s solutions is the ZKBioSecurity web platform, which integrates multiple functionalities. It is all about the so-called modules for access control, time and attendance, online and offline elevator control, hotel and visitor management, parking lots, mobile patrols, and video surveillance. There are also new modules that allow data management from all access control devices, including body temperature measurement. VMS modules that support thermal cameras and network recorders are also included. When ProFace X [TD] or SpeedFace V5L [TD] face recognition devices are used, the person’s image is sent to the software, with the security guard being able to identify the person with the higher body temperature than usual. The people flow management feature has been added to the time and attendance module. The latest version of the platform also provides advanced security features such as FP online registration, HTTPS encrypted communication, registration using a QR code, an LCD screen to display a log of live access events, etc.

“The platform is one of our main services. I do not define it as a product, but rather as a service because it includes all the necessary solutions within the security framework. Access control is at the core of what we do, and to that, we can add more functionalities that are translated into modules. The control we provide is primarily focused on user protection. By this, I mean any type of information, such as normal entries, normal events, alarm events, and some types of anomalies – all of which are perfectly controlled. It is possible to integrate not only with our other devices but also with the products made by our partners via APIs and SDKs directly. Each module communicates with other modules, which is fundamental. This means that if you want to verify the alarm caused by an access control system or activate the alarm, open or close the door due to an event in the CCTV or sensor module, you are actually able to do it”, says Leita. The platform can be used in projects of all sizes. Its optimized architecture, which enables advanced biometric identification, and a modern interface provide users with a completely new experience and easy management of various systems.

Time and attendance from anywhere

When it comes to time and attendance data and associated hardware, the key difference is that ZKTeco generally does not use controllers but rather terminals. Still, “the market has changed a lot over the years and we are aware that mobile and cloud solutions are taking precedence. That is why one of our latest innovations is GoTime Cloud, in which a user can now use a mobile phone in addition to traditional card and biometric verification methods, while the supervisors have total control over employees: where they are, what kind of work they do, etc. You can see on the screen that each working code is marked with an image and all of them can be exported as reports”, explains Leita. Localization is available in the form of a map, which is increasingly in demand in the market, and you can also create advanced calendars, custom shift schedules, or configure all changes in your company.

Integration of mechanical entrance control and access control

The entrance control product series features several categories. There are several types of turnstiles and barriers available, which are divided based on the level of mechanics and electromechanical control one needs. The showroom featured various three-arm turnstiles and turnstiles with curved and flat flaps and barriers for parking lots, together with vertical tripod barriers used in football stadiums. But the real benefit is found not only in the products themselves but in the fact that they can integrate with their own access control. “It is important to mention that we can perform any mechanical and software integration ourselves because we are the proprietors of our technology. This means that no matter what kind of reader or controller is demanded for turnstiles, we can offer it to our customers. This greatly simplifies the work of the installers who install them in the field”, says our host.

Innovation at work

To get an idea of the designing prowess of their engineers, we were introduced to the ZPad Plus, one of ZKTeco’s best-selling products. Originally, it was a device used for time & attendance, but during the pandemic, there came a need to check the green certificate. So, they used the original public applications certified by the Italian government and integrated them with their hardware, which can now make decisions and open doors or activate an alarm relay based on the validity or invalidity of the certificate. “It is one of our best designs so far and it has been a great success, especially because we have improved the algorithm that has the ability to check personal documents, so we can be sure that the certificate belongs to the person who shows it”, says Leita.

We also had the opportunity to check the Mars Pro series of turnstiles with flat or curved flaps, designed for spaces with a large flow of people. It has a modular structure and comes with new features, such as frame modularity, which can be easily assembled and disassembled. No matter what level of damage is done to your turnstile, only its impacted part will need to be replaced. However, the most important functionality is the number of ten million cycles, which is a rarity on the market.

Radar-equipped barriers

There are two types of barriers on the market: those with strong mechanical components, which can raise arms up to six meters long, and cost-effective barriers for residential and commercial areas. ZKTeco offers both types. The parking solution is based on LPR bullet and dome cameras integrated with barriers equipped with VR10 radar, which completely eliminates the need for any induction loop. When the vehicle leaves an area, it is not necessary to re-read the plates so a copper spiral is usually installed in the ground and it detects the weight of the vehicle and sends a signal to the barrier to open. With radar, there is no need for that, because it is simply pointed to the right side and calibrated. The license plates are controlled locally by a camera, while the VR10 controls the arms without the need to install a magnetic loop, which also makes the job easier for installers. Another good thing is the anti-shock mechanism, which detects an obstacle (e.g. a child passing by) and prevents the arm from falling. “An additional important functionality of this solution is that it can work independently or you can connect it to our ZKBioSecurity platform. So, in addition to all the information about vehicles that pass through the barrier, you can also link each car with a user in the system”, concludes Leita.

We ended our showroom tour by checking the solutions with smart locks for hotels and smaller housing units, with ZKTeco offering four series: online hotel management, offline hotel management, smart locks with local Bluetooth connection, or smart locks with cloud connection via an e-mail account. This enables remote management of credentials, without the need to go to the site.

Thirteenth security company in the world

After a full-day tour of ZKTeco’s European headquarters and the meetings with the leading people from its management, business development, and technical departments, we were left with the feeling that the company has made a lot of progress during all these years. When we reflect on its first appearances at major security fairs only ten years ago and its modest biometric solutions which focused on cost-effectiveness back then, we simply have to compare it with what we had the opportunity to see and hear during our visit. It is no wonder, then, that ZKTeco ranked 13th among the top fifty security companies in the world according to Security 50 list. They have come a long way from one product group to multi-series solutions but managed to keep the focus on one thing – entrance control. And that is the biggest advantage of ZKTeco.

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Computer Vision Is Transforming the Transportation Industry

April 25, 2022

Computer vision is helping to reshape the transportation industry at every level from streamlining the passenger experience to preemptive fleet maintenance to fuel optimization. As the transportation industry continues to evolve, converging technologies such as 5G and powerful edge compute will enable the next generation of prescriptive and adaptive data-driven outcomes benefiting passengers, the industry and sustainability.

Byline: Wayne Arvidson, Global Director, Market Development and Strategy, Dell Technologies

Whether moving people or goods, transportation environments are in constant motion. Railways, airports, cargo ships, and public and private transportation are complex use cases for computer vision. They require real-time situational awareness, based on the analysis of many different data points, which taxes compute and storage resources at the edge—defined as where the physical world meets the data world.

The challenge is being met using a real-time federated approach with scalable, high-performance hyperconverged infrastructures (HCI), allowing organizations to capture and process large amounts of data at the edge, and provide real-time insights. The results, not the actual data, are then sent back to a centralized location for re-training of the analytics model which then is pushed back out to all edge locations, thus delivering better quality insights in near real-time.

Although computer vision has not yet been widely adopted industry wide, transportation organizations that have invested are realizing gains in terms of safety, customer experience, operational efficiency, sustainability and revenue generation, and are looking to take advantage of further advances in technology in the future. Automation and touchless processes integrated with computer vision greatly enhance transportation services as well.

Collectively, this has a big impact on adopters, especially when organizations are hard-pressed to maximize profits amidst rising costs and reduced resources.

What transportation industry challenges are addressed or resolved with computer vision?

All facets of the transportation industry have seen tremendous loss in revenue and resources over the last few years. As the economy began to turn around, public and private transportation organizations were under pressure to rebound with lower budgets and labor shortages, spurring efforts to find ways to be more efficient.

In addition, safety is a key requirement across rail, water, air, and roadways, often requiring split-second decisions that can often be enhanced by machine learning. And predictive maintenance, where parts are replaced before equipment and vehicles break down, is extremely valuable to operations but often difficult to do well due to the number of variables involved.

In any of these situations, different data points can be ingested once, and analyzed for multiple uses. A security infrastructure can provide a foundation which captures audio and video data, and data from IoT devices, which the computer vision system then combines and analyzes, producing insights that can be used to positively impact safety, the customer experience, operational efficiencies, sustainability and revenue generation.

How can computer vision improve passenger, personnel and facility safety?

A significant part of passenger and personnel safety is to ensure that the facility and equipment itself is physically secure. Through the use of cameras and sensors, computer vision enables more precise inspection of passenger baggage and cargo.

Certain types of behaviors or objects can also be monitored. Electronic devices, such as smartphones and laptops, each have a unique MAC address. Airports today can capture device MAC addresses to track devices throughout a facility. When combined with data from sensors, those devices can be automatically tracked and decisions made in real time. If an unauthorized person enters a secure area, security personnel are alerted to take immediate action. Computer vision systems can also determine how many people are in a location, for example if an evacuation is necessary.

Examples of computer vision affecting the customer experience

An important focus of airports is to get people through the facility as quickly as possible. Part customer experience and part operational efficiency, computer vision with artificial intelligence can improve queue management by proactively determining when to add customer service personnel to an airport check-in counter or open another security line.

The touchless passenger experience is also gaining traction, which aims to minimize time from curb to gate while enhancing the passenger experience throughout the journey (Figure 1). For example, passengers could be automatically checked in upon arrival, prechecked to walk through security, be alerted to gate changes, order a coffee that’s waiting at the shop closest to the gate and use frictionless boarding. This scenario is possible through the correlation of data, with the computer vision system making the decision that you are the correct passenger.

Figure 1. Use of computer vision to streamline the passenger experience

We briefly mentioned the value of predictive maintenance to organizations; it also has a considerable impact on fuel consumption and costs, and can reduce an organization’s carbon footprint. Cameras and thermal vision technology are used to visually inspect vehicles for wear and tear, and when integrated with IoT sensors, can more accurately identify parts that should be replaced.

Airports can use computer vision to greatly increase the efficiency of ramp operations and plane turnaround. The system monitors the location of planes that just landed and whether the luggage offboarding equipment is in place. It also automatically notifies the catering truck, fuel truck, and ramp personnel.

Public transportation also benefits from the efficiencies brought on by computer vision. As municipal transit agencies look to increase ridership and fuel efficiency, some communities are experimenting with dynamic routing of buses to reduce instances of empty buses on routes. For passenger vehicles, some cities charge a fee when your vehicle enters the city center. Pollution sensors detect elevations in airborne chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, triggering an alert that results in varying fees paid by those vehicle owners.

Railways equip trains with cameras and install them in stations to inspect and monitor parts as the train rolls down the track, increasing safety, efficiency and revenues. For a detailed look at how computer technology is used to inspect railcars, browse this Duos Technology Group case study.

Does computer vision affect sustainability in transportation?

In the context of transportation, sustainability focuses mainly on the consumption and proper management of power and fuel. Airports, for example, deal with large amounts of fuel and are concerned about the release of potentially dangerous amounts of vapors and chemicals that could increase air pollution or contaminate groundwater. Deicing planes also requires the use of chemicals, so cameras and sensors can assist in deicing a plane just enough to make it safe without an excess of chemicals flowing from the tarmac or runway into the ground. Airports and railways deal with vegetation control as a means of fire suppression. Computer vision technology monitors fuel usage, air and ground contamination, and even the height of vegetation around landing strips and railyards.

Similar to smart cities, airports, train stations and cruise ships can use computer vision to control power consumption, water usage, air conditioning and heating. Based on where people are and their usage patterns, smart lighting can be automatically controlled to turn off or use downlighting during the brightest part of the day and light other areas 24/7 for safety purposes.

Generating revenue for transportation companies and the public sector

This gets back to doing more with fewer resources as well as enhancing current revenue streams. For an airport, that means steering passengers toward retail within the facility to maximize their spend and turning aircraft around quickly, to allow more flights per day. A single flight can generate tens of thousands of dollars in fees, so getting one more flight through a gate per hour has a significant impact on revenue.

Depending on how crowded an airport is, dynamic pricing could be implemented automatically to adjust parking pricing. States and local municipalities also benefit from dynamic pricing. Drivers typically need a tag or pass for high-occupancy lanes on freeways. Computer vision technology can increase the fee for high-occupancy lane usage based on the current amount of traffic.

How do mobile edge computing and 5G affect computer vision in transportation?

Real-time actionable insights and learning is critical to situational awareness in the field, and technologies like 5G and mobile edge computing enable faster response times.

Consider rolling stock, like a public bus. The driver needs to focus on the road and passengers. A bus equipped with cameras and a compact hyperconverged infrastructure can use computer vision to create real-time situational awareness for the driver as well as for transit hub staff. As the vehicle approaches a bus stop, the system captures the number of waiting passengers, or passengers with special needs. The increased bandwidth of 5G enables fast transfers of the insights back to a central location for analysis, with the results of the analysis streamed back to the bus in near real time.

Computer vision is truly transforming the transportation industry, aided by automation, touchless technologies and 5G. Edge computing and machine learning capabilities make faster and better-quality decision making and situational awareness in the field possible, which in turn increases efficiencies, makes environments safer, lowers carbon emissions, raises customer satisfaction and helps organizations be more profitable.

For an overview of computer vision and its impact on industries, see The Future Is Computer Vision – Real-Time Situational Awareness, Better Quality and Faster Insights.

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Uniserve Project: How to optimize logistics and trade management

April 11, 2022

Founded by Iain Liddell in 1984, Uniserve has grown to become the UK’s largest privately-owned logistics and global trade management provider. Uniview is expected to provide the complete video surveillance solution to Uniserve’s headquarter. Seamlessly blending ocean freight, air freight and road freight services with intelligent warehousing, distribution and supply chain, makes the solution much more complex. Including camera’s in a freezer of minus 30 degrees, So many interesting features and nearly every type of Uniview camera used.

To tackle the multi-dimensional challenges of the solution, products like IPC3615LR3-PF28-D, IPC2325LBR3-SPZ28-D, as well as NSW2010-10T-POE, etc. were used in the project.

LightHunter

Traditional infrared light is regarded as a black-and-white picture, which has a difficult time restoring the real surveillance scene. Poor low-light effect and is easy to lost details. Especially for large warehouses. There are different monitoring requirements at different times. You will face large or narrow space, and there are strong light or dark light even no light environment, all these mixed scenes require high dynamic range of camera video. Uniview LightHunter technology ensures ultra-high image quality in low illumination environment. You will get a good picture no matter where you install the cameras.

Low-temperature environment

There are both common warehouses and low-temperature cold-chain warehouses with surrounding temperature ranging from-18℃ to-25℃ for these large storage systems. Electronic devices tend to shut down during low temperature emviornment, that’s if the camera cannot reach the preheating value, it cannot be started if the ambient temperature is too low. Fortunately, Uniview cameras has a wide adapting temperature, range from -30°C to 60°C (-22°F to 140°F) that can perfectly cope with extremely cold environment.

250m PoE

The large-scale storage system covers a large area and the room is empty. Each floor has no independent shaft or operation room for transit, which is very different from the traditional buildings and hotels. The distance between the two mounting points is very far. NSW2010-10T-POE, up to 250m transmission distance on surveillance mode, make the vast logistics land solution come true.

With everyone’s collaborative efforts, the project was greatly recognized and received high praise from the customer. Uniview’s aim is to become a global leader in video surveillance industry which endeavors to build a safer world by providing professional, reliable and cutting-edge products and services.

How sanctions on Russia could impact US security buyers

April 11, 2022

Source: Prasanth Aby Thomas, Consultant Editor, asmag.com

The US and many nations have imposed sweeping and severe sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. These sanctions could have certain downstream effects for US security buyers.

Asmag.com recently spoke to Brian Schwab, Founder and Principal Consultant of S3SDC and partner at eSRX, to understand the extent of these effects. This category includes video surveillance equipment, access control, intrusion detection equipment, etc. The current sanctions list prohibits the export of advanced, dual-use technology to Russia. This will seriously curtail that country’s ability to produce physical security components or equipment of any value for export purposes. But the impact will not be the same for buyers in the US.

“When analyzing the overall global physical security equipment market, in my opinion, Russia does not produce any equipment in this area that is qualitatively or technologically distinctive from any other global producer,” Schwab said. “Generally speaking, physical security equipment, or components thereof, are what economists call “substitutional goods.” This means that given price and availability, a consumer can simply switch from one equipment manufacturer to another and still be able to meet their immediate security needs with little noticeable loss in quality.”

That said, Russia is not a major global market player in equipment production. Most of the top physical security equipment manufacturers are in Asia, western Europe, and the Americas. The market for Russian physical security goods in the US is already minuscule, and these sanctions may not have any noticeable impact on US buyers in sourcing products.

More impact on cybersecurity

Any tangible impact of the sanctions is likely to be felt in the cyber security realm. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the everyday work environment making telecommuting or remote work the new norm. Online communication devices and info sharing platforms (such as Zoom, Teams, and Dropbox) have become extremely popular. This has increased the number of potentially vulnerable devices and network connections, resulting in a sharp rise in the number and type of potential threats US businesses and other organizations face.

“One major Russian cyber security firm, Kaspersky Labs, has already said it will be unaffected by the sanctions and that it will fulfill its contracts and obligations to international customers and partners,” Schwab continued. “This seems to be because Kaspersky opened a security network data center in Zurich, Switzerland, to handle information voluntarily shared with users in North America, Europe, and Asia.” This allows Kaspersky to mollify any concerns that Russia can exploit data, with or without the company’s cooperation or consent. Yet, Kaspersky’s sales in the US market were flat in 2020 and were estimated to have increased by 2.8 percent in 2021.

Any specter of doubt in the minds of many US security buyers, already cautioned by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act and actions taken by the US Department of Homeland Security that same year, will likely have already caused many to switch their service provider to a non-Russian organization.

Cybersecurity threats also impact buyers

A second-order effect of the sanctions would be hacktivist or state-sponsored cyberwarfare activities aimed at disrupting business activities, compromising data, and other nefarious activities conducted on behalf of the Russian state.

“This is where I would anticipate the largest financial impact to US security buyers will likely be seen through an increase in costs associated with data protection measures,” Schwab said. “However, with increasing ransomware attacks over the past few years, many US firms have already begun to move in this direction. As such, the second-order effect of implementing these security activities may already be factored into these US firms’ acquisition process and not as much of a heavy lift as one may at first think.”

For those who have not switched but remain committed to using one of several large data analytics firms of Russian origin or location, there are legal issues that must be measured and assessed as part of those firms’ Enterprise Security Risk Management process. This will likely require US buyers to assess their contracts with these Russian firms to determine whether force majeure measures exist, whether these protections would apply (i.e., the undeclared war Russia launched may not be included under force majeure provisions), and how any potential risk of data exposure, compromise, or loss may impact the US company’s downstream clients. If force majeure is not viable, protections may be available under “Restatement of Contracts,” which would allow cancellation of existing contracts due to either supervening impracticability or frustration of purpose. While these will not protect against possible misuse/abuse of data these Russian firms maintain, they will provide some measure of legal protection if data is breached or maliciously compromised.

Impact on the supply chain

Russia plays a small but essential role in supplying specific raw materials used to create security- and defense-related equipment. Russian raw materials, such as titanium, are integral parts of defense and aerospace equipment.

“However, many US firms had begun to diversify their raw materials suppliers following the 2014 Russian takeover and annexation of Crimea,” Schwab pointed out. “Firms may now begin to look to China to pick up the slack, but this is not a guaranteed way to eliminate supply issues caused by sanctions, given the trade war between the US and China that began during the Trump Administration as well as the growing Sino-Russian “strategic partnership.”

Conclusion

In short, Russia’s penetration into the US security market was limited even before this war started. Given Russia’s lack of market share, it is unlikely that US security buyers will see a significant impact from the sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

The real impact will likely be a drop in immediate supplies of raw materials needed to create security-related equipment and devices. This will potentially cause short-term shortages that will increase prices and the availability of some equipment. However, as new raw material sources are developed, this is likely a short- to mid-term impact only for US buyers.

Finally, US firms will have to assess their existing contracts with Russian firms to protect themselves legally. While this is a time-consuming process in itself, US firms may also experience a corresponding increase in cyber security spending above pre-invasion levels to protect themselves against anticipated Russian cyberwarfare and other state-sponsored malicious hacking activities.

Don’t Rely on a Wake-up Call: Hotels Have No Room to Compromise on Fire Protection

January 13, 2022

Hotels can be complicated sites to protect. Busy kitchens, extensive electrical installations plus regular repair and maintenance work all increase the likelihood of fire incidents. Add to these the presence of an ever-changing population of residents who may smoke, be careless around call points and detectors, or have varying mobility, and the picture becomes increasingly complex.

No two hotels are the same. Some are high-rise and purpose-built with hundreds of guest rooms and a host of leisure, retail and dining spaces. Others may be sprawling resorts with isolated beachfront villas or remote log cabins. Smaller, boutique hotels pose different challenges, and further complications arise when the hotel is within a historic building.

It’s clear that there is rarely scope for a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Nevertheless, there are some requirements applicable to all hotel fire protection. We will explore some of these next.

False Alarm Management

The causes of false and unwanted fire alarms in hotels can include cigarette smoke, shower steam, the accidental triggering of manual call points, and even contractor activity. Against a backdrop of these and many other possible triggers, how do hotels minimise fire risk, ensure staff and guest safety, avoid undue panic and disruption, whilst also limiting damage to profits and reputation?

A high-performance fire system will offer comprehensive false alarm management generally using cause and effect programming, as well as detection and verification methods to help prevent false alarms.

AlarmCalm false alarm management is available as standard on Advanced’s Axis EN and MxPro 5 solutions and delivers unprecedented control of verification and investigation delays. By dividing sites up into virtual false alarm ‘building areas’ independent of fire zones, users gain more precise control of false alarm management and reduction strategies that exactly fit the needs of each part of a building.

To highlight some of the solutions to the challenges faced within hotels, Advanced has published AlarmCalm Complete False Alarm Management for Hotels.

Phased Evacuation

Selecting a fire panel brand with the ability to process complicated cause and effect is crucial to effectively manage the evacuation process.

When configured correctly, cause and effect programming, can help ensure that the people most in danger from a fire are evacuated first. Meanwhile, the flow of others in the building can be kept at a manageable level and safe escape routes maintained. This is especially the case for systems featuring the latest sounders that support recorded messages or varied tones.

Easy Identification of Fire Events

Large, multi-storey hotel complexes can make it difficult for fire and rescue services arriving on site to find and monitor the spread of fire. This can hamper decision-making, increase reaction time and affect assessments of how to tackle the blaze.

TouchControl

In smaller boutique hotels, where space can be at a premium and aesthetics are important, fire panel location can be contentious. It is a challenge to integrate fire protection discreetly whilst maintaining up-to-the-minute status and control.

For these scenarios, Advanced offers the TouchControl repeater panel. Ideal for use in public areas, thanks to its discreet, low-profile design, the panel complements a wide range of interiors and is capable of displaying hotel notices, messages or advertisements when in standby mode. However, upon detector activation, the display instantly reverts to show fire system status via clear maps and plans of the site and the zone/area in fire. The screen itself has the added benefit that it can be operated by firefighters even when wearing gloves.

The ability to locate powerful fire system technology within high-traffic areas without detracting from high-quality interior decor gives fire system specifiers and installers new scope to combine design appeal with fire safety for full protection of people and property.

BMS Integration to Support PC Graphics

Fire systems within larger hotel premises are often required to integrate with BMS (building management systems) to communicate with third-party solutions. By consolidating data from multiple applications onto one system, end users have full oversight of an entire complex, improving reporting, information management and decision-making.

Advanced’s EN 54-approved Axis EN, MxPro 5 and UL 864-approved Axis AX panels all easily integrate with a site’s BMS via a simple fire protection interface. Once connected, end users with access to Advanced’s PC graphics package can view the status of their entire site via maps and plans.

In summary, well-considered, well-implemented fire protection solutions can transform the experience of hotel residents and staff alike. In making fire protection a priority and specifying the best equipment for each hotel’s particular needs from the outset, it is possible to maximise safety, minimise disturbance, protect reputations and enhance hospitality.

STOP DANGEROUS BATTERY FIRES IN DATA CENTERS BEFORE THEY START

January 13, 2022

Unscheduled downtime at data centers can cause serious financial, operational and reputational damage. Many operators aim to avoid them altogether, often making UPSs a critical role in the infrastructure. Operators also have to manage the risk of failure and potentially serious danger of the lithium-ion batteries found inside?

The rise of lithium-ion batteries

Uninterruptible power supply systems (UPSs) are key to data center operations yet on-site power remains the most common cause of outages[1] and most downtime incidents are likely preventable. And as the power source, Lithium-ion batteries are steadily superseding their valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) counterparts – and rightly so[2]. Looking at a 10-year period, li-ion batteries cost 31% less than traditional VRLA batteries because of the lower maintenance and replacement costs[3]. They are up to 70% smaller and 60% lighter, and generally work reliably at higher temperatures than VRLA batteries, making them the ideal onsite candidate for UPS application in data centers[4]. On the other hand, the capital expenditure of li-ion batteries is double than VRLA batteries[5], which means that the cost of a potential failure is much higher from day one.

Thermal runaway – the chain reaction of batteries

Another concept managers of data centers must be aware of is thermal runway, essentially a nearly unstoppable chain reaction of defective batteries. Initiated by mechanical or thermal failures – abuse, overcharging or internal short circuit– the battery cell starts to decompose, which increases temperature, which in turn increases the rate of decomposition. The result is a self-feeding heating rate within the cell that increases until the cell loses stability, ruptures, and all remaining thermal and electrochemical energy is released into the surroundings[6], resulting into quickly escalating and catastrophic, often explosive fire, that is extremely hard to extinguish.

The problem with li-ion battery fires

According to a study from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Firefighter Safety Research Institute, li-ion battery fires present serious challenges:

Releases explosive gases and vapors during thermal runaway,
Forms and disperses a vapor cloud, and
ineffectiveness of fire suppression.

Thermal runaway fires can have grave consequences: toxic gas leaks, fires, explosions – they could bring an entire data center facility to a halt.

Enter the Li-ion Tamer®

„It is nearly impossible to stop an advanced thermal runaway process, and the consequences could be catastrophic” explained Siniša Pintarić, Business Development Manager – Honeywell Fire & PA/VA Solutions. „This is why the goal here is to look for very early signs of battery failure and to be able to stop the process before it becomes a problem.”

Li-ion Tamer® is designed to provide enhanced safety for battery systems and can be installed at a wide range of integration points throughout data centers.

Off-gas begins as gases that are generated inside individual cells due to exothermic reactions which begin to occur as a result of internal problems in the battery or external abuses. The release of these gases is the first stage of a battery failure which can self-propagate until the battery begins to smoke and go into fully developed thermal runaway. The ability to detect the gases provides a signal capable to providing early warning of the eventual cell failure and can enable actions which can help mitigate the effects of the battery failure.

Li-ion Tamer® is designed to detect and protect from individual modules all the way to room level integrated solutions.

Click here to find out more about our solutions for data centers.

[1] https://uptimeinstitute.com/about-ui/press-releases/uptime-institute-11th-annual-global-data-center-survey

[2] https://www.cibsejournal.com/technical/battery-technology-vrla-or-li-ion-batteries/

[3] https://www.se.com/ww/en/work/solutions/system/s1/data-center-and-network-systems/trade-off-tools/lithium-ion-vs-vrla-ups-battery-tco-calculator/, see 10-Year TCO Breakdown

[4] https://datacenterfrontier.com/lithium-ion-batteries-offer-new-alternative-data-center-backup-power/

[5] https://www.se.com/ww/en/work/solutions/system/s1/data-center-and-network-systems/trade-off-tools/lithium-ion-vs-vrla-ups-battery-tco-calculator/, see 10-Year TCO Breakdown / Capex segment

[6] https://www.batterypoweronline.com/news/thermal-runaway-understanding-the-fundamentals-to-ensure-safer-batteries/

What happens in Balkan Bet Casino, stays in Balkan Bet Casino A UNV LED Project

January 13, 2022

Balkan Bet , one of Serbia ‘ s largest casino chains , was founded in 2000 and took its name from the location of the first open payment point in the Balkan Hotel. Nowadays, Balkan Bet owns more than 120 branches throughout Serbia.

As part of its core business, the company has its own production and offers good odds for sporting betting. In addition, more than 350 standard games for football matches and more than 400 special games for other sports are on offer at any given time.

In addition to betting, Balkan Bet also has slot machines; there are also bars in the pleasant ambience of the restaurant offering a wide range of drinks at affordable prices.

Balkan Bet decided to upgrade the current display equipment to a more advanced LED solution indoors and outdoors starting off with one pilot store. For the indoor LED screen, apart from the normal LED screen with 2 square meters, Balkan Bet also required a cuboid structure with seamless connection between four rectangle screens, around 5 square meters in total. For the outdoor LED screen, waterproof and higher brightness is a must. Thus UNV adopts IP65 Module Ingress protection and higher brightness to guarantee it steady and adaptive in outdoor environment. What’s more, customer also asked for a very high quality product as well as easy maintenance due to the installation environment.

Uniview and its distributor recommend Indoor fine pixel LED MW7225-M, cost effective module from XM series and outdoor routine pixel LED MW7504 in KS series.
Indoor cost-effective fine pixel pure module LED solution, MW7225-M, adopts precision manufacturing materials like top brand LED bulbs, power supply & control system and passes 680 strict tests during LED production with extensive certifications to ensure stability and reliability.

Thanks to the non –cabinet design, the module LED solution can be installed directly on the wall with steel frame for ultra-thin application and acquire better heat dissipation. Meanwhile, the compact and standard module size guarantees flexible splicing. Since the module unit size is smaller, the splicing can be flexible enough to realize the 90 ° included angle splicing.

Real seamless splicing and perfect display effect provides customer Immersive visual experience. To better protect eyes of viewers, UNV LED is equipped with eye protection technology, image enhancement and low brightness with high gray scale.

Besides, complete front maintenance mode and hot plug highly improve maintenance efficiency and make installation more convenient.
In Balkan Bet four side LED wall project, two image receiver sending boxes are used to realize display two different image on both side of the four side wall, fully meet the requirement of partner.

In Summary, as a pioneer and leading global manufacturer of IP video surveillance, UNV also aims to be Global Professional Display Product and Solution provider.
More information please visit www.uniview.com. If you have any business query, please contact huangluyu@uniview.com.

Security 50: Top technology trends of 2021 (and 2020)

December 21, 2021

By: William Pao

Technology-wise, many flourished this year. Yet none received the kind of interest, enthusiasm and inquiries than cloud, whose momentum is set to continue in the near term. But is it really the cure-all solution that addresses users’ ongoing security challenges? Is it the perfect technology that makes users’ problems go away? This note discusses cloud and other prevalent technologies of 2021.

Cloud in security, in the forms of video surveillance-as-a-service or access control-as-a-service, is picking up steam. According to MarketsandMarkets, the VSaaS market is expected to grow from US$2.2 billion in 2020 to $4.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 16 percent.

Indeed, a lot of users migrated to cloud due to its various benefits. “The platform-centric VSaaS model reduces user costs, simplifies application management, and makes the infrastructure more flexible and extensible. It is not only suitable for centralized video surveillance, but also for centralized equipment operation and maintenance management and centralized alarm processing,” said Pan Lingyu, VSaaS Product Director of Dahua Technology.

“VSaaS truly allows for end users of all industries and operational sizes to have an advanced surveillance solution that can both meet their security needs and is easy to maintain in the long-term, and which can prove to be the most cost-efficient throughout the system lifecycle. The partnership and service model that VSaaS enables for end users, manufacturers, and integrators also creates much more lasting relationships and retention rates, while also ensuring that customers can access the best features and functions that fit their operation and knowing that a trusted partner is there to support them if any issues or concerns arise,” said Danielle VanZandt, Industry Analyst for Security at Frost and Sullivan.

Further, cloud adoption has been accelerated during the pandemic. “Cloud migration for data analysis and forensics has been pushed faster than I originally expected. The pandemic pushed companies to start looking at occupancy rates in buildings, seating arrangements and many other health related topics. Cloud in general has allowed for faster development of those products and faster distribution and access to those as well,” said Jason Glover, VP of Sales at BCD.

“VSaaS is not a new concept and has been a trend in the security industry for many years. But recently it has become much more popular since the online operations requirement have grown because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the development of mobile Internet, IoT and 5G technologies also accelerates applications of VSaaS,” said Keen Yao, VP of Hikvision. “The cloud-based VSaaS applications enable users to view real-time security events through app and to accomplish remote inspection tasks. This brings vast benefits in efficiency, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and security. From small business markets to enterprise level, we can see the strengthened trend that more and more businesses are leveraging the VSaaS applications.”

Cloud stands out, but is it the panacea to all your security challenges?

Yet this is not to say cloud is the perfect solution that addresses all user needs. In fact, a recent asmag.com “Technologies that Impact Security” survey finds VSaaS ranked only slightly above the average level for suitability and maturity.

“The cloud offerings of established major video surveillance vendors generally form a small part of their businesses. Cloud-specialist offerings from newer vendors are really only just starting to challenge the scale of many of the incumbent vendors. Presently we believe many cloud video surveillance offerings have not yet matured,” said Josh Woodhouse, Lead Analyst and Founder of Novaira Insights, and Jon Cropley, Principal Analyst at Novaira Insights. “Cloud remains a high growth area, but from a small base.

Indeed, there are certain challenges to cloud adoption. Storage in cloud for an extensive period of time, per certain industry requirements, can be quite expensive, not to mention some industries don’t even allow remote storage. There are also privacy and cybersecurity concerns, as well as other issues.

“Cybersecurity concerns that cast doubt over cloud-based video were also compounded when hackers exploited a remote backdoor exposing 150,000 Verkada cameras in the spring of 2021,” said Joon Jun, President of IDIS Global Business Division. “There are practical challenges to overcome, too, since most VSaaS vendors offer only a small range of 2MP cameras that won’t be fit for purpose for a range of applications. For instance, a 2MP fisheye or panoramic camera is not going to give security managers the performance they need to reliably detect, investigate and prosecute crime. A lack of specialist cameras, as well as more popular ‘work-horse’ models such as 5MP and 8MP PTZs, will limit deployments to indoor settings that don’t require wide-area coverage.”

As a result, hybrid solutions have become the preferred choice for many users. “Hybrid solutions make the best use of cloud, on-premise and edge computing environments in relation to the customer need. There are many factors that will influencer a customer’s decision, both internal and external. The specific nature and functionality needed from the security solution, policies and regulation relating to data processing and protection, cybersecurity, resources for system use, management and maintenance, and many more considerations will influence the most appropriate mix of environments. Ultimately, we believe that most surveillance solutions will be based on a hybrid model,” said Ray Mauritsson, CEO, Axis Communications.

“At this point, most of the access control ecosystem does rely on some form of hybrid cloud solution. For instance, device provisioning requires the cloud as does firmware distribution. Control and access management are usually implemented partially local on-premises and partially in the cloud. Low latency and high reliability are paramount, but remote monitoring, control and analytics are also increasingly important. Our platforms are open to support these and other use cases,” said Vince Wenos, SVP and CTO of Allegion.

And this hybrid cloud model is expected to remain popular in the near future. “Cloud is here to stay. I think some of the laws and rules/regulations need to catch up to cloud. There are some areas in the world that won’t allow video surveillance data to be moved to the cloud for example; that does not stop the management of those systems from being cloud-based. I really believe that on-prem management of the directories, users, etc. will all move to the cloud and the on-prem storage will remain intact for the time being,” Glover said.

Other top technology trends

Besides cloud, other technologies also dominated the security scene in 2021. And they are set to influence security in the near term. We discuss these technologies below.

AI in video surveillance

Ranking high, in terms of both maturity and suitability, on the asmag.com survey is AI, which continues to receive inquiries from customers and whose growth is set to continue.

“Interest in AI video has ramped up considerably since 2019. With many facilities shut or partially open security managers had more time to assess AI and deep-learning based software. Early adoption was hampered by premature launches, with some vendors over promising. But today algorithms have significantly improved,” Jun said. “For instance, when we first launched our AI solution we were achieving 96-97 percent accuracy, but today the latest iteration of IDIS Deep Learning Analytics is delivering 98 percent precision. By the start of 2021, our systems integrators and end-users were expressing confidence that AI would not only improve security operations but have the ability to deliver value to wider stakeholders.

“The demand for AI has exploded in recent years, which is expected to continue in 2022. By embedding AI into end, edge and cloud scenes, more and more AI-based devices will be widely applied in related fields and various industries. With the evolution of AI technology, AI-based analytics will gradually be applied to low-end products, and user experience will be significantly improved,” said Yin Jun, VP of R&D Center at Dahua Technology.

“AI – or more accurately deep learning – is definitely an area where we see growth and innovation, and where there is significant customer demand. The benefits of deep learning will not only enhance the capabilities of surveillance solutions designed for safety and security, but open up new use cases in operational efficiency and effectiveness,” Mauritsson said.

And more and more, AI will be moving to the edge, driven by more capable camera SoCs that support complex algorithms. “Increasingly powerful edge computing has become available for security cameras now, and this makes us believe edge computing stands a good chance of ‘putting AI everywhere,’” Yao said. “Automatic number plate recognition, automated event alert, people counting, heat mapping, illegal parking detection, and hard hat detection, as well as a number of other AI applications, are becoming popular in the security market. With increased edge computing and optimized AI algorithms, it will become normal to see security cameras shoulder more intelligent tasks in the near future.”

“The latest generation of chipsets which will become more widely available in the market in 2022 allow for greater edge processing. Some vendors have already integrated these chipsets into their latest camera lines. Other vendors will soon follow suit. There continues to be development in ecosystems which allow for a range of AI-based applications to be installed on cameras. This is not a new concept. Yet, the improvement in analytics performance combined with higher processing capability of the latest chipsets, now make this concept more attractive to integrators and end-users,” Woodhouse and Cropley said.

Touchless technologies

Touchless solutions are still in high demand as impacts of the pandemic are still felt in various sectors. “Increased biometrics integration and touchless technologies remained very popular throughout 2021 as many end users began to figure out their return-to-work strategies and how to restart more normalized operations in the pandemic era,” VanZandt said. “Changing customer sentiments away from shared touch points, as well as a rise in more remote security operations and management solutions also created new operational models for internal security teams via integrated remote and on-site operations.”

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity and related solutions also took the center stage. “With the intensification of attacks from ransomware and killware, the entire industry will need to increase its efforts to protect systems, devices and customers. While cloud and network security technologies are advancing and being rapidly deployed, the technologies for device-level security will not be far behind as we head into 2022 and beyond. Embedded hardware authentication, and the technologies needed to provide it, will become much more prevalent in the next few years,” Wenos said.

“There will also be an increasing focus on data security and data protection. Cyberattacks are on the rise and the damage is now enormous. Here, I see MOBOTIX as a pioneer in the industry. Cybersecurity ‘Made in Germany’ is part of the MOBOTIX DNA. We only install high-performance and high-quality electronic components. This principle is consistent right through to the digital world,” said Thomas Lausten, CEO of MOBOTIX. “Cybersecurity enjoys the highest priority at MOBOTIX and is lived and implemented throughout the MOBOTIX Cactus Concept. Data security with regard to the German Data Protection Act (DSGVO) is also elementary for MOBOTIX.”

Digitization and integration

Technologies which augment video surveillance to provide value beyond security are important. “Video analytics are the typical example; yet, specialist IoT hardware have a role to play in the market. For example, environmental sensors integrated into the surveillance system can add new types of data streams to lead to new applications and value creation,” Woodhouse and Cropley said.

This integration trend is also being driven by the pandemic which has forced users to cut down labor-intensive processes and digitize workflows, a trend that is continuing. “It’s hardly surprising that there’s demand across the world to integrate video with a wider range of third-party systems – including intruder and fire detection, frictionless and touchless access control and visitor management, popular databases such as Microsoft Active Directory, and sector specific systems such as Point-of-Sale (POS) in retail and logistics and manufacturing operations software,” Jun said.

You can read the content related to SECURITY 50 at this link

Hikvision announces its Webcam debut

June 8, 2021

June 1st, 2021 – Hikvision, an IoT solution provider with video as its core competence, today announced the launch of its brand-new webcam products to the global market. The product family currently comprises four different series – Ultra, Pro, Live, and Value – designed for various scenarios and user groups, and with bespoke feature sets.

According to industry analyst firms, the global live streaming market is expected to continue growing significantly the coming years. The increase in video streaming among citizens and businesses in all verticals is reported as the main driver for market growth, with content creators diversifying their material and activities, and connecting with audiences in new ways. In addition, complete and partial lockdowns during the COVID-19 crisis also positively impacted the live streaming industry.

To provide immersive video conferencing and streaming experiences, users need webcams that deliver high-resolution imaging and excellent-quality sound in a range of scenarios. Hikvision has designed and developed its new webcam range to meet this need.

Webcams for a range of applications and scenarios

Hikvision Ultra and Pro webcams for remote conferencing
The Hikvision Ultra series of webcams are specifically designed for remote conferencing. The highlight of this series is its PTZ control capability, which offers 5x optical zoom capabilities. This means that users can see meeting presentations or discussions without straining their eyes. Additionally, PTZ control allows users to pan across 330°, helping them adjust their viewing angle easily, without missing a thing.

Hikvision Live webcams for live streaming
The cube-shaped Hikvision Live series of webcams is designed for live streaming, eCommerce, and gaming applications. If a product is being presented in a live program, for example, the webcam view can be changed – both horizontally and vertically – thanks to magnetic mountings on all four sides of the casing.

These webcams also offer Sharp Auto Focus, which ensures that images of people and objects are sharp and clear at all times. Importantly, the webcams’ ‘touchable supplemental LED light’ feature enables users to adjust brightness in accordance with the surrounding environment.

Hikvision Value webcams for online education
The Hikvision Value series is our range of entry level webcams. These have a compact design, making them perfect for online education applications that connect school teachers and students.
The webcam comes with a built-in microphone, which incorporates advanced algorithms to reduce noise and improve sound quality. Its wide-angle lens provides maximum coverage, with no image distortion. This is particularly useful for teachers giving lessons in a classroom, where both the teacher and the blackboard, or wall-mounted screen, can be viewed clearly in a single frame.

Easy and flexible installation
All Hikvision webcams are driver-free, offering ‘plug-and-play’ installation via a standard USB interface. This allows users to begin conferencing or streaming in seconds.

All Hikvision webcams can also be flexibly mounted on users’ equipment, on tables, laptops, monitors, or tripods.

Importantly, Hikvision webcams are equipped with a dedicated PC-based client software, called HIKIN. Users can use this software for video previews, and to configure image and sound parameters. Notably, the webcams can be used with all the leading third-party conferencing platforms with video parameter configured using a simple drop-down menu.

Contact Hikvision for more details
All Hikvision webcams are delivered with a standard 2-year warranty, giving end users reliability and peace of mind.

To find out more about Hikvision webcams, and how they can meet your specific application needs, visit our product page, or contact us today!

Checkpoint launches industry first, design focused NEO in-lane EAS system

May 11, 2021

Checkpoint Systems – a global leader in retail technology solutions – has today unveiled a radical new sensor addition to their NEO portfolio. The NS40 provides grocery retailers with a discreet but powerful in-lane loss prevention solution. Designed to be installed at the checkout, the NEO-based NS40 antenna features an ultra-slim design, with patented 360 circular array technology along with the benefits of Bluetooth connectivity for easy deployment, with no floor cutting.

Developed to be unobtrusive and effortlessly fit within grocery stores, the NS40 can be tailored for any checkout configuration and thanks to its innovative design, can be mounted against metal without any adverse impact on detection rates.

Secure Bluetooth connectivity provides ease of installation as no floor cutting is required between checkout desks. It also gives retailers the ability to easily reposition and remodel the checkout space, when required, without expensive re-cabling or disruption to services.

The NS40 delivers excellent, high-performance detection, through the use of 360° circular array technology. Located at the end of the checkout, after products are scanned and security labels deactivated, it effectively recognises non-deactivated tags and those being concealed.

With customisable LED light and sound files, the sensor enables alerts to be dealt with efficiently by the checkout operator. This ‘early’ loss prevention alarm helps tackle incidents of non-deactivation promptly, reducing embarrassment for customers and for shoplifting attempts, aids the retailer in the successful recovery of goods before they reach the exit doors.

Available in a brushed steel finish as standard, the NS40 can be painted, powder-coated or vinyl wrapped to match a store’s visual identity. Custom Voice messages and a variety of sounds and coloured LEDs can be created for different alarm events.

Additionally, the connectivity of NEO delivers historic trend data via the SaaS Cloud service, providing retailers with a rich source of activity data to improve shrinkage results and help monitor store performance, while also providing proactive maintenance support, with more than 50% of technical issues resolved remotely.

Simon Edgar, Senior Director of Product Management – Checkpoint Systems, commented: “ The NS40 offers retailers a revolutionary new design for their in-lane EAS systems. Designed specifically for the grocery market, our new NS40 antenna has already been trialled successfully in Spain. Voice of customer feedback was cruicial during this project to ensure the end solution exactly matched the use case requirements for in-lane grocery retailers. The design, detection and ease of installation are without doubt market leading.”

Feature Story: We visited the European headquarters of ZKTeco

Computer Vision Is Transforming the Transportation Industry

Uniserve Project: How to optimize logistics and trade management

How sanctions on Russia could impact US security buyers

Don’t Rely on a Wake-up Call: Hotels Have No Room to Compromise on Fire Protection

STOP DANGEROUS BATTERY FIRES IN DATA CENTERS BEFORE THEY START

What happens in Balkan Bet Casino, stays in Balkan Bet Casino A UNV LED Project