Security Electronics & Networks Magazine

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE 416

SELECTING BIOMETRIC READERS

l Anixter To Be Acquired For $US3.8B Cash l Scenes From SAGE 2019, ASIS ACT Seminars, Dinner l Product Review: Tecom ChallengerPlus, Plus, Plus l Intrusion Detection: Choosing Alarm Panels

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l The Interview: David Lenz, Hills l Pictorial: NAS Launches Partnership With Tiandy l Alarm Monitoring: Selfie Sticks l Smart Buildings: Define Before You Integrate l Case Study: Pacom Revs Up in Barcelona

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editorial S E CU RI TY E L ECTR O NI C S & NETWO R KS D E C E MBER 2 01 9 ISSUE 41 6

By John Adams

BEST PRODUCTS OF 2019: PROGNOSTICATIONS E’VE had another 12 W months of evolution in the electronic security industry – nothing new about that – but there are some trends that are increasingly pushing through the surface of inertia into clearer view. And it’s these trends that have had most impact on my thoughts about the best solutions of the last 12 months. SEN’s full review of the year’s products will hit the EDM in the next couple of weeks but we’ll explore our sense of the best solutions of 2019 here.

After Security 2019 we talked about the way communications and software were impacting on the market and since then that impression has only grown stronger. It’s a trend that’s not only being seen in new releases but is shouldering its way into the thoughts of end users and into tender specifications, as well.

End user demands are going to drive the industry at SaaS and cloud more quickly than many realise and those demands are all about efficiency.

It should come as no surprise that improvements in internet speed and the increasing reliability of networks and network components are playing a role here. Customers are looking at their network structures in a whole new way, with cloud and data centres becoming more central. It’s the type of users that are leading the drive that should resonate most. They are serious customers in corporate and government organisations whose wants it’s impossible to ignore.

We were hit with this change at Security & Government Expo 2019 last month, when the head of ASIO T4 gave a compelling precis of where the organization had come from and where it was headed. The areas of gravest concern for the technological gatekeepers of government security solutions revolved around guaranteeing security in an integrated world. Most telling, ASIO T4 called for industry’s help to meet the challenges.

The current state of the

The areas of gravest concern for the technological gatekeepers of government security solutions revolved around ensuing security in an integrated world. market displays a blurring of defined boundaries between systems and operating solutions and there’s increasing overlap between platforms and manufacturers. This process now set in motion is going to accelerate, pulled forward by a shift towards a kind of seamlessness I doubt any of us would have considered possible a few year’s ago.

Bastions of proprietary tech now look at the products of competitors in a new way – through the eyes of customers clamouring to focus their technological consciousness into a single point. This means integrations that used to be about device drivers have become about melding entire disciplines – pushing and levering and teasing systems of all kinds into distilled dashboards that present users only what they need to negotiate the moment.

None of this should be taken to mean quality devices are not vital to system performance but the way these devices will be addressed in the future is going to be different and the processes customers take to integrate enterprise-wide solutions are going to consume capital that might have been spent elsewhere.

The potency of the Alarm.com ecosystem can’t be denied – the company has reached a tipping point in terms of success that’s likely to see growth accelerate – its success will encourage competitors. Other new products that have jumped out over the year include Brivo OnAir Pass, Salto SK, AnyVision face recognition, Nirovision’s cloud-based analytics.

Having tested Hikvision Darkfighter X 4MP PTZ with 35x optical zoom we found this camera delivers security teams enormous power. Bosch FLEXIDOME IP starlight 8000i won an ASIAL Best Product Award this year and deserved to win – a great camera.

Gallagher Security Health Check utility deserves a mention here. It’s designed to allow users to run an automated check via their Gallagher

Command Centre system at any time, reducing the time and expense of performing regular manual audits and just won a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Award.

Integriti version 19 – this was already a highly evolved solution and the addition of an improved camera interface takes this to the next level. Users can view multiple cameras using a variety of standard layout configurations, control items associated with cameras, tweak tours, camera views, evidence clips and more.

Having taken a closer look at the Tecom ecosystem in recent weeks, it’s impossible not to be pleased with it – there’s a lot to think about in that product stack. I like Tecom ChallengerPlus, which delivers ‘a building on a board’ and backs that hardware up through solid software with plenty of potential for evolution, and a secure cloud path. TecomC4 is another winner from Interlogix.

Being able to bring multiple systems together affordably is going to be central to the future of suppliers and integrators.

The latest version of Saab OneView is an if/then business rules integration platform topped by a lightweight management system that sits above any collection of integrated sub systems and aggregates system-wide events to give profound situational awareness, quickfire response to unfolding events and complex reporting via a single portal. The OneView interface is a thing of simple beauty.

Genetec Security Center 5.8 probably exemplifies the new market direction best - the company’s sense of the future has proved unusually penetrating. It takes a particular capacity for technological synthesis and a double helping of self-belief to successfully ambush a market and with SC 5.8 Genetec has presented us with its most highly evolved expression of our future yet. n se&n 03

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32: TECOM CHALLENGERPLUS

DEC 19 10: ANIXTER TO BE ACQUIRED FOR $US3.8B CASH BY PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM Anixter reports it has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) to be acquired for $US3.8 billion in cash and become a private company, subject to the usual approvals.

20: SELECTING BIOMETRIC READERS Biometrics isn’t just fingerprint readers anymore – new technologies and new management solutions are changing the nature of the technology, making access faster and sites more secure, while defending the privacy of users.

28: SCENES FROM SAGE 2019, ASIS ACT SEMINARS, DINNER SAGE 2019, ASIS ACT Seminars and Dinner held at the Realm Hotel and the National Press Club in Canberra last month proved a successful event, with plenty to see and many excellent networking and learning opportunities.

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I expected to have no trouble wrapping my head around the new Tecom ChallengerPlus and its new installer software, CTPlus. But the capabilities of Tecom security management solutions and the enormity of its layered ecosystem turned out to be considerably greater than my expectations.

40: CHOOSING ALARM PANELS What is the perfect alarm and home automation panel? What features should installers be looking for when they think about upgrading customers to the best solutions available?

44: DAVID LENZ, HILLS Hills has divested its AV and Antenna Divisions and is refocusing on areas of growth, including integrated security solutions, technical services and health technologies. Hills CEO and MD David Lenz speaks with John Adams about the company’s plans for the electronic security business.

46: NAS LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH TIANDY NAS Brisbane launched its distribution partnership with CCTV manufacturer Tiandy at the Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane recently.

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50: SMART BUILDINGS: DEFINE BEFORE YOU INTEGRATE Researchers have examined the concepts of occupant-centric control in the burgeoning field of smart buildings and found few demonstrations and no standards. They propose future directions for OCC research by providing recommendations to address these challenges and to standardize OCC implementations.

58: PACOM REVS UP With the use of motorbikes on the rise all over Spain, integrator Cettec Seguridad and PACOM have developed and integrated a PACOM 8002 solution allowing Mimoto Parking to offer cutting edge access control and intrusion detection technology to keep motorbikes secure across its facilities.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE 416

SELECTING BIOMETRIC READERS

l Anixter To Be Acquired For $US3.8B Cash l Scenes From SAGE 2019, ASIS ACT Seminars, Dinner l Product Review: Tecom ChallengerPlus, Plus, Plus l Intrusion Detection: Choosing Alarm Panels

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l The Interview: David Lenz, Hills l Pictorial: NAS Launches Partnership With Tiandy l Alarm Monitoring: Selfie Sticks l Smart Buildings: Define Before You Integrate l Case Study: Pacom Revs Up in Barcelona

Publisher Bridge Publishing Aust. Pty Ltd ABN 11 083 704 858 PO Box 237 Darlinghurst NSW 1300 tel 61 2 9280 4425 fax 61 2 9280 4428 email info@bridge publishing.com.au

10: NEWS Latest business, product and technical news from Australia and around the world.

48: MONITORING Central stations and alarm installers face a juggling act when they put security management capability into the hands of end users through browser-based apps. It’s the power of instant notifications and video verification to smart devices that puts the industry into a position where a delicate balance must be found.

54: EDITOR’S CHOICE What’s new from our manufacturers.

56: HELPDESK Our team of electronic security experts answers your tough technical questions.

Editor John Adams Advertising Manager Monique Keatinge Customer Service Annette Mathews tel 61 2 9280 4425 annette@bridge publishing.com.au

Design Tania Simanowsky e: tania@ taniasdesign.com.au

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NEWS IN BRIEF DECEMBER 2019

ALLIED ALARMS WINS TIMARU HOSPITAL CCTV PROJECT n LOCAL security integrator Allied Alarms has been awarded a contract to upgrade the CCTV system at Timaru Hospital in New

Zealand’s South Island. The contract closed July 16 this year and was awarded last month.

South Canterbury District

NEXAR GROUP OFFERS RISK ADVISORY, PROTECTIVE SECURITY, ELECTRONIC SECURITY, ETHICAL AI n NEXAR Group has officially launched and will offer services including risk advisory, protective security and security services, and ethical AI. “Nexar Group is built on a foundation to challenge traditional security practices and drive NexGen solutions,” said Nexar Group’s Luke Montgomery. “This is achieved by leveraging our AI capability, risk approach and execution by our protective and security services.

“Our approach to integrated services is focused on the combination of both technical and behaviour factors; resulting in a new generational approach to protective security, electronic security and risk advisory.”

According to Montgomery, Nexar Group’s mission is to drive change, empower security professionals and deliver an exceptional level of service.

“We achieve this through

driving innovative solutions identified through our intelligence and risk processes and we pride ourselves on honest and transparent partnerships.

Nexar Group is 100 per cent Australia owned and operated – this provides real comfort to clients that we not only operate in our market, we live here, too.

Our team is passionate about industry change and enabling security staff to be empowered to fully protect your organisation, staff and assets.”

Health Board went to market seeking an IPbased security camera system to replace the existing mixed analogue

and IP system at the network-linked campuses at Timaru hospital and Talbot Park. The solution proposed includes all the components such as server, software, cameras and ongoing support Timaru Hospital said its team was looking for a product with “strong functionality, good range of cameras and innovative modules, including analytics – a product which was continually improving with new features and modules without the need to replace cameras.

“We will be wanting to deal with a company Vlado whichDamjanovski has numerous customers of different sizes

with health not being a prerequisite,” the hospital said. “The existing system has very few features in accomplishing this and the features of modern IP-based systems will help protect people and locate wandering patients.”

Allied Alarms is a family company based in Timaru that has conducted thousands of installations throughout South Island over the past 30 years.

Allied Alarms, which is a Hikvision Platinum Partner, was established in 1983, making it one of the oldest privatelyowned security integration companies operating in New Zealand.

IAN ROSS TAKES ON MANAGEMENT OF CSD ACT n NSW state manager Ian Ross has added the CSD Canberra branch to his responsibilities, which will form an integral part of the team in NSW. “Ian Ross now manages both the NSW/ACT business as a result of the departure of Charlie Stokes, former ACT territory manager, who has left us to pursue a career on the other side of the fence with an installation company,” reports Peter Grimshaw

GM ANZ Sales for CSD and Atlas Gentech. “We appreciate all that Charlie achieved for the Canberra business and wish him all the very best for his new role.”

“Ian has been with CSD for 18 months and has earned this opportunity to lead the ACT business and incorporate it in under the NSW banner,” Grimshaw said.

Ian Ross, state manager NSW/ACT said the team

in Canberra is very excited about the new structure, with Scott McCarthy also being elevated to the new role of branch team leader.

“I am really looking forward to fully integrating the NSW and ACT businesses while keeping foremost in my mind at all times that the ACT business has been built on a strong local presence providing extremely solid pre and post-sales support,” Ross said.

Luke Montgomery

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NZ Civil Aviation Authority Seeks Hold Baggage Screening X-Ray Equipment p.12 Metro Trains Used CCTV Drones, CCTV Trailer During Melbourne Cup p.14 Newcastle Airport Installs CT Scanning p.16 CCTV Upgrade For Central Coast Stadium p.18

COMPILED BY JOHN ADAMS

ANIXTER TO BE ACQUIRED FOR $US3.8B CASH BY PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM n ANIXTER reports it has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) to be acquired for $US3.8 billion in cash and become a private company, subject to the usual approvals.

CD&R is a private investment firm that has managed the investment of $28 billion in 86 companies since 1978, including numerous electrical and industrial distributors.

Under the terms of the agreement, CD&R-managed funds will acquire the outstanding shares of Anixter common stock for $81.00 per share in cash, a premium of approximately 13 per cent over Anixter’s closing price on October 29,

2019. The acquisition will close by the end of Q1 2020.

“We believe this transaction is in the best interests of Anixter and our stockholders,” says Bill Galvin, Anixter’s president and CEO. “After careful and thorough analysis, together with our independent advisors, our board of directors unanimously approved this transaction with CD&R, which has a strong reputation and a track record of success in helping industrial distributors, like Anixter, prosper and grow.

“We are also pleased that this transaction appropriately recognizes the value of Anixter’s customer relationships, technology and solutions,

financial management and global market position. It’s a great outcome for Anixter’s employees, customers and partners. As a private company, we believe Anixter will have greater flexibility to focus on and accelerate our long-term strategic priorities.”

Bill Galvin, along with other members of Anixter’s executive management team, are anticipated to continue leading the company upon completion of the transaction.

According to Nate Sleeper, partner at CD&R, Anixter is a well-positioned industrial distributor with leading market positions and differentiated capabilities that deliver strong customer value.

“We look forward to partnering with the outstanding management team, led by Bill Galvin, on initiatives to grow the business and further strengthen its competitive position while maintaining Anixter’s distinctive culture grounded in operational excellence, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the company’s employees, customers, and global partners,” Sleeper said.

SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL SAFER CITY NETWORK SEEKS 18 WIRELESS CAMERAS

n SHEPPARTON City Council is seeking 18 fixed wireless CCTV cameras as part of stage 2 of its Safer City Camera Network, which has been in operation since 2014.

This contract includes supply and installation of 18 new fixed wireless IP cameras, the relocation of 1 existing PTZ camera and associated hardware.

Cameras will integrate with the existing Safer City Camera Network, a closedcircuit television network managed and operated by Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with Victoria Police.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville said $280,000 had been alloted for the expansion, which will bring the total amount of CCTV

cameras in Shepparton to around 40. Due to be installed in Fraser, Fryers and High Sts, Victoria Park Lake, Queens Gardens and the Shepparton Sports Precinct, video footage will be relayed to the Shepparton Police Station.

“These new cameras will help police keep a close eye on the Shepparton CBD and surrounding areas, making it a safer and more inviting space for the community,” Ms Neville said.

Shepparton Police Acting Inspector Dean Williams said the expansion was a chance to make the public feel safer.

“The extension will be of great benefit for us as an enforcement agency and around prevention as well.”

SYDNEY TRAINS SEEKS SAAS SITE SAFETY INDUCTION & ACCESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM n SYDNEY Trains has sought a SaaS site safety induction and access management system to standardise induction across all Sydney Trains and NSW Trains sites.

Sydney Trains is the suburban passenger rail network serving the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It provides 365 million passenger trips a year. The network is a hybrid suburban-commuter rail system with a central underground core that covers over 813 km of track and has 175 stations over

9 lines.

As part of the ‘Safety Starts With Me’ programme, Sydney Trains is seeking a solution to improve site safety inductions.

Additionally, the introduction of the Sydney Trains accommodation programme and its drive towards flexible working practice means that staff are now being encouraged to move around different work locations on a regular basis to fit the demands and nature of their daily work.

Site safety induction and access management at

Sydney Trains is currently time consuming and there is inconsistency in the methods and systems used for site safety induction & access management across the business, which raises security concerns and operational risks. To ensure compliance with operational standards, safety audit and sitecompliance requirements, Sydney Trains needs to monitor and have visibility of personnel present within the premises in real time manner.

To make the Site safety

induction and access management system efficient and reliable, Sydney Trains wants to

deploy a software-asa-service solution with minimum integration required.

Kendra Ross

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NEWS DECEMBER 2019

NZ CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY SEEKS HOLD BAGGAGE SCREENING X-RAY EQUIPMENT n AVIATION Security Services (Avsec) NZ is seeking to replace its current inline Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) EDS X-ray equipment, with ECAC Standard 3 CT EDS

X-ray. This procurement relates to the purchase of CT EDS X-ray machines for inline HBS screening in 5 locations - this tender closes June 1, 2020.

In addition, Avsec requires

design services, to plan and design a solution that meets the requirements in the most effective and efficient way while minimising infrastructure costs. Included is

equipment to upgrade level 2 and 4 screening facilities and a proposed support contract with a term of 3-4 years and options to extend for a further 3 years, operator and first level maintainer training, supporting manuals, installation and commissioning of CT EDS X-ray machines, initial maintenance spares, specialist tools and test equipment as required to meet normal operations, and maintenance and repair support in order to maintain planned operational performance.

Also required is in-country repair, support and maintenance because the new equipment is critical to the safe operation of all international flights leaving from a New Zealand port. Avsec is procuring a minimum of 2 ECAC X-ray machines per location to ensure if

one breaks down, there is enough redundancy in the system to allow the airport to continue to operate while the broken machine is repaired.

The key objective of this procurement is a solution that best provides a national New Zealand Security outcome, which includes the areas of regulatory compliance and international standards to a level determined by the director of Civil Aviation. Avsec’s proposed outcomes from the procurement process are to receive one or more proposals from suppliers that meet the preconditions outlined later in this document and show how they best propose to meet the requirements while maintaining best value for money.

HILLS OPENS NEW NERANG BRANCH

CSD, ATLAS GENTECH INTEGRATE TECHNICAL SERVICES

n HILLS new branch at Nerang in Queensland is firing on all cylinders after the official opening recently.

Located less than 20 minutes-drive from Surfers Paradise, the branch is far more accessible to customers from all parts of the coast than the Arundel branch. The branch also holds more stock than the Arundel branch, which helps ensure customers can get the items they want, when they want them.

n CSD and Atlas Gentech, both Anixter-owned companies, have been collaborating at all levels to leverage the technical expertise currently available across the 2 countries in order to provide customers with “best in region technical support service”, according to Mark Edwards, general manager - ANZ for products, marketing and technical services.

“Our first major task has been to amalgamate our technical services teams across ANZ, and we are really excited to announce that our new service went live on November 18,” Edwards said. “Now when you call for technical support, any one of our agents across ANZ could answer your call, but don’t be fooled by the accents as the team cannot decide if Australia is the Mainland or West Island, however, they are absolutely ready to offer the best possible support to our customers.”

According to the Hills’ team, the best thing about the Nerang branch is 6 display pods, which can be used to run live demonstrations, giving customers the opportunity to see products in action before they buy. The branch also has 2 fulltime counter salespeople, allowing them to spend more time with customers.

Hills Nerang is located at 65 Lawrence Dr, Nerang just off the M1.

CSD and Atlas Gentech now have a team of 36 employees made up of 28 technical support agents, 6 high level product specialists and 2 management staff members. Some of the team have upwards of 25 years in the security and together they support all of CSD and Atlas Gentech’s major brands and product suites.

“Both companies currently provide fantastic technical support services; however, we are now taking it to another level,” Edwards said. “Together, we will provide our customers a wide range of value added, professional technical

BOTH COMPANIES CURRENTLY PROVIDE FANTASTIC TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES; HOWEVER, WE ARE NOW TAKING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. services that will ensure the technical challenges of the most complex installations are catered for.

“The newly formed technical services team will offer an unprecedented level of support to all of CSD and Atlas Gentech’s most valuable assets – our customers.”

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NEWS DECEMBER 2019

METRO TRAINS USED CCTV DRONES, CCTV TRAILER DURING MELBOURNE CUP n MORE than 1000 extra train services running to and from the Melbourne Cup Carnival were monitored by drones and a

CCTV trailer, with 10 drone pilots working across the 4 race days.

And a new mobile CCTV trailer, complete with

thermal night-time imaging to target vandals and trespassers, was also used along the Flemington Racecourse line.

HILLS TO SELL AV BUSINESS TO AMBER TECHNOLOGY n HILLS has reached an agreement with Amber Technology for the sale of its AV distribution business as part of a strategy to focus on its fast-growing Health and Security and Technical Services Distribution Divisions.

The sale is subject to conditions and final approval by Amber Technology Ltd shareholders, is expected to be completed early December 2019.

Consideration for the acquisition is anticipated to be net cash of David Lenz

approximately $A5.5 million, which includes inventory – dependent on valuation at settlement – and capitalised R&D. As part of the agreement with Amber Technology, a specialist provider of AV products and services, most Hills’ AV personnel and its brands distributed in ANZ will transfer to Amber Technology, ensuring continuity for customers and vendors.

Following the sale of the AV business, Hills will have 2 focused divisions: * Hills Health – providing

nurse call solutions, patient engagement systems and Wi-Fi networks in Australian hospitals * Hills Distribution, providing integrated security technology solutions and technical services.

Hills managing director and CEO, David Lenz, said the sale to Amber, with its sole focus on the AV industry and more than 30 years’ experience, was a positive outcome for employees, customers and suppliers of the Hills’ AV business.

“Hills has a long history of participation in the AV markets in ANZ,” Lenz said.

“We have appreciated the support of our customers and suppliers over many years, however, our future lies in the health, security and technical services sectors, and we are very pleased to have found a new opportunity for our AV colleagues, customers and suppliers at Amber Technology.

“With these changes, we are plotting an exciting future for Hills by focusing on those businesses with the most potential for growth.”

The trailer includes a 6-metre mast, which carries a zoomable camera as well as a thermal imaging camera, providing clear vision at night or in areas with little or no light. Both technologies helped reduce the impact of train and track faults across the network, getting trains and racegoers moving as quickly as possible.

The drones, which can be called upon at a moment’s notice, gave Metro Trains’ Control Centre staff the best view of the train network, complementing the 9000 CCTV cameras already in place across Melbourne.

This is the first time Metro Trains has used its own drone technology.

The vision was monitored

by Victoria Police and Metro Trains security staff, who were empowered to act quickly if there was an infrastructure issue or security incident on the track.

“Using drone technology, we can get the best possible views of the train network, which carried around half of the 300,000 racegoers who flocked to the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” said Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Melissa Horne.

“We’re always working with our public transport operators to use new technologies that allow us to react quickly to anything that may occur anywhere on the train network.”

TIM HARRIS JOINS GALLAGHER AUSTRALIA TEAM

Tim Harris

n GALLAGHER welcomes Tim Harris to its Australian team – he takes up the position of technical business development manager – Australian Capital Territory.

Harris has been involved in the electronic security industry for 16 years and brings a wealth of industry experience and knowledge to the team. He has held technical and project management roles with various Gallagher channel partners in the ACT and comes to Gallagher from his previous role at Charles Sturt University, where he standardised the Gallagher access control system.

In his new role, Harris will provide support for

customers and generate new business in the ACT. “I have always been interested in electronics and figuring out how things work,” Harris said. “I enjoy providing technical solutions to security and access control issues and I’m looking forward to discovering more about Gallagher’s products and the solutions we can provide for our customers.”

HARRIS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ELECTRONIC SECURITY INDUSTRY FOR 16 YEARS AND BRINGS A WEALTH OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE TO THE TEAM.

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We keep innovating to protect our future innovators Educational institutions across the world rely on our products to protect their staff and students.

Inner Range specialise in enterprise-level solutions that are scalable, intuitive - and most importantly - secure.

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DATIONS ABLED TO CURITY HE N AND NING ANCE

NEWS DECEMBER 2019

DHA RELEASES SAFER COMMUNITIES FUNDING: GRANTS UP TO $A1 MILLION FOR SECURITY TECHNOLOGY n DEPARTMENT of Home Affairs has released Round 5 of its Safer Communities Fund grants, offering funding for CCTV, alarm systems, access control, bollards, intercoms, PAs, security lighting and more.

The grants, which are

THE MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNT IS $10,000, THE MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT PER LOCATION OR SCHOOL CAMPUS IS $500,000, THE MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT PER ORGANISATION IS $1 MILLION.

drawn from the seized proceeds of crime, provide schools and pre-schools, places of religious worship, community organisations and local councils with grants of up to $A1 million for crime prevention initiatives aimed at reducing crime, violence, anti-social behaviour and/or other security risks driven by racial and/or religious intolerance.

Project activities can include: l Fixed or mobile CCTV cameras l Security lighting l Fencing and gates l Bollards l External blast walls and

windows l Security and alarm systems l Public address systems l Intercoms and access control systems l Employing or hiring security guards.

The minimum grant amount is $10,000, the maximum grant amount per location or school campus is $500,000, the maximum grant amount per organisation is $1 million and grants can be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs. The maximum grant period is 36 months and projects must be completed by June 30, 2023. Contact DHA for more information.

NEWCASTLE AIRPORT INSTALLS CT SCANNING n NEWCASTLE Airport has installed computed tomography (CT) baggage X-ray and body scanning of passengers transiting the airport with the assistance of SNP Security.

According to SNP senior managing director Tom Roche, SNP was delighted to partner with Newcastle Airport to successfully implement Computed Tomography (CT) baggage X-ray and body scanning in Australia.

“SNP congratulates Newcastle Airport on this accomplishment,

and we are proud of our dedicated team of security professionals who worked to make it happen,” he said.

“We’re very proud to offer all passengers through our airport a greatly enhanced customer experience,” Newcastle Airport CEO, Dr. Peter Cock said.

“Our passengers will no longer be required to undergo random explosives detection testing, or need to remove laptops from their hand luggage, making for a much smoother and convenient journey.”

Along with CT scanning,

Newcastle Airport also rolled out a new Flight Information Display System (FIDS) throughout the terminal, making it easier for passengers and Airport visitors to access flight information and improve their travel experience.

WE’RE VERY PROUD TO OFFER ALL PASSENGERS THROUGH OUR AIRPORT A GREATLY ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

BGW TECHNOLOGIES SA EXPANDS, DAVID STONE JOINS TEAM

David Stone

n DAVID Stone has joined BGW Technologies South Australia as internal technical sales.

“We are delighted to have a quality person like David join the BGW Technologies team in SA,” said Paul Amato, state manager, South Australia.

“David was an installation and service technician earlier in his career, so he understands how important technical knowledge and customer service is to our customer base. This experience will be is very important in helping drive our ongoing success in SA and our branch growth in Beverley.”

Stone joins BGW Technologies with over 25 years of security experience in technical and sales specialist roles in the security industry and

has excellent knowledge in areas like intrusion and CCTV. He has held various roles with system integrators and installations companies and in the last 10 years held roles with distribution companies such as Honeywell Security, Freeway Security and at DAS/Hills.

“Our growth in our Adelaide branch since we opened 2 years ago has been a great story for our business and for Paul Amato who established BGWT SA back in 2017,” said Robert Meachem, BGW Technologies general manager. “What’s more we are really proud that the growth of our Aussie family-owned business has allowed us to employ another person to help service our fast-growing customer base.”

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NEWS DECEMBER 2019

CCTV UPGRADE FOR CENTRAL COAST STADIUM n A NEW CCTV solution will be installed at Central Coast Stadium to provide 24/7 security and enhanced surveillance capabilities

during events. Central Coast Council owns and operates Central Coast Stadium, which hosts a number of high level sporting and

entertainment events year round creating a focal point for residents and visitors to the Gosford and Central Coast region.

The Central Coast Stadium is currently utilising temporary CCTV arrangements to help manage the security of the facility. Upgrading the CCTV is necessary to enhance the security of the facility to best protect the asset and the safety of workers and visitors. The 20,059-seat stadium was originally designed to be the home for the North Sydney Bears rugby league football club and is rectangular in shape with the unusual characteristic in that seating is located on only 3 sides of the ground to offer a view of Brisbane Water.

ATLAS GENTECH APPOINTED A BOSCH VIDEO SYSTEMS DISTRIBUTION PARTNER IN NZ nATLAS Gentech’s customer network will now have access to the complete Bosch Video Systems product range after the company was appointed as a Bosch Video Systems Distribution Partner in NZ. Anixter, which acquired Atlas Gentech NZ just over a year ago, will extend its strategic global alliance with Bosch to make the complete range of Bosch Video Systems products available to the nationwide network of integrators and contractors that purchase through Atlas Gentech in New Zealand.

Chris Dellenty

As a leading nationwide provider of technology solutions servicing the NZ market for over 25 years, with a philosophy of partnering with leading powerhouse brands, Atlas Gentech welcomeed the addition of the Bosch video systems range to its portfolio. With over 70 staff, including a comprehensive product support team, offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch featuring state-of-the-art interactive showrooms, and extensive technical training programs, Atlas Gentech is well-

resourced to service and support Bosch video products and solutions.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with Bosch in New Zealand,” said Tony Knighting, general manager brands and marketing, Atlas Gentech. “The addition of a premium video range compliments our extensive enterprise offering and ensures that we can provide an end to end solution to meet the highest demands of a professional integrated solution.”

Bosch’s Chris Dellenty, general manager, Oceania, Bosch Security Systems, said he was excited by the opportunities the expanded and robust alliance brings.

“At Bosch, we pride ourselves on providing excellent service and support to all customers,” Dellenty said. “By partnering with a wellestablished security distributor like Atlas Gentech, which has the experience and proficiency to support the needs of customers across the country, we will continue to provide the quality products and services that people expect when they buy Bosch.”

SEADAN GROUP ENTERS PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES

n SEADAN Group has recently announced a new partnership with Uniview Technologies which includes the complete range of UNV CCTV products which are now available throughout all Seadan Security and Electronics & Sprint Intercom stores.

“We’re genuinely excited about this new partnership with Uniview, as it falls in line with the Seadan Group’s commitment to convenience and genuine value to our loyal customers and we believe that it compliments

well and does not distract from our existing product offering,” said Blake Buckland, group general manager, Seadan Group.

Tim “We chose Uniview asHarris they have demonstrated a stable approach to the Australian market with their existing distribution network, while ensuring the quality of the product they deliver is closely monitored and delivered in a manner that ensures longevity of brand equity. This is something Seadan Group respects greatly.”

SCOTT JOHNSTONE STEPS UP TO NATIONAL ROLE WITH GALLAGHER Scott Johnstone

nFOLLOWING 4 years of massive growth, Gallagher is growing its Australian team with the appointment of Scott Johnstone to the role of national sales manager – Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Johnstone moves into the role after 14 years with Gallagher working in business development and sales management roles, most recently as sales manager for Queensland and Papua New Guinea. As national sales manager, Johnstone will work closely with sales managers across the country to continue Gallagher’s growth and achievement in Australia.

“Scott has been instrumental in helping

grow Gallagher’s customer base in Australia and in creating excellent relationships with our network of Channel Partners in Queensland and Papua New Guinea,” said Craig Schutte, general manager Australia & Asia Pacific. “We’re thrilled to see him take his expertise into the national sales manager role.”

“Scott has been a significant contributor in establishing a strong presence for Gallagher in the federal government and resources sectors and he has also helped to cement Gallagher as a security leader in the construction, health, and education industries.”

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BASIC INTERCOM KIT PROFESSIONAL and FLEXIBLE but SIMPLE

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For more information on these and other best-in-class solutions from Hills Limited call us on 1300 HILLS1 (445 571) or visit hills.com.au

Follow us on CONNECT

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E N T E RTA I N

SECURE

27/11/19 10:09 am

● Special report

Biometrics

BY J O H N A D A M S

SELECTING BIOMETRIC READERS Biometrics isn’t just fingerprint readers anymore – new technologies and new management solutions are changing the nature of the technology, making access faster and sites more secure, while defending the privacy of users.

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● Special report

Biometrics

ELECTING biometric access control readers has never been harder yet the power of the technology has never been so great. The best systems offer high security, low latency, very low false acceptance/rejection rates, affordability and clever technology application that bridge some of the key complaints biometrics have faced over the years, including slower entry times compared to card readers.

There’s plenty for integrators to think about here.

There are some relatively simple fingerprint readers that slot into access control solutions seamlessly, while other biometrics demand more complex integrations – you might be better speaking with suppliers of management solutions to uncover what works best with the systems you use before diving in. Other variations include the fact some readers – I’m thinking Morpho here – have the ability to read multiple fingerprints during a ‘wave’ scan, which increases security and reliability levels.

Cost is another complexity that will require thought. You have to approach biometrics with TCO in mind. The whole card library thing has been the source of recurring revenue for many suppliers for decades. The costs are not huge for a small card library but multiply them by 200 or 5000 and deploy higher security prox cards that can only be sourced from a handful of suppliers and suddenly the equation changes completely. With biometrics, users walk around with their ‘credential’ attached to them.

They can’t lose it or give it to a workmate - that makes management so much easier.

S

A PREMIUM PRODUCT WILL HAVE VERY LOW FALSE ACCEPTANCE RATE (FAR) AND FALSE REJECTION RATE (FRR) ENSURING ACCURACY IN IDENTIFICATION.

Data security will also need to be considered and this will mean bringing in IT people and having some serious chats with biometric suppliers. Good solutions will store vectors rather than full biometrics and they’ll be encrypted to the eyeballs. You want that surety. You’re also going to need to convey the dependability of the selected technology to your management team, as well as to users themselves.

Not everyone likes biometrics and with a big group of users some cat-herding is inevitable. When all else fails, consider using the biometric reader integrated into everyone’s smart device. People are less threatened by a device they live with, despite its inherently greater vulnerabilities.

Because modern access control solutions tend to reside on networks, another key development is improved cyber security of devices, which may incorporate elements of biometric identity, often in coded form designed to ensure the data can’t be reengineered to reveal the biometric layer from which it was drawn. Working out which of these performance vectors is the most important can be challenging.

According to Paul Garnaut of NetDigital Security, the Australian distributor of Suprema biometric readers, the most important aspect of any biometric product is the accuracy of the identification.

“This relates directly to the quality of the algorithm used to store and secure the users biometric data,” Garnaut says. “A premium product will have very low false acceptance rate (FAR) and false rejection rate (FRR) ensuring accuracy in identification. Ease of installation is very important, the quick 2-click

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● Special report

Biometrics

enrolment process employed by Suprema in its BioStar 2 software is a perfect example.”

End users often request biometric readers because they are seeking a reader technology that offers the highest possible levels of security. But that puts the onus on the integrator to ensure the biometric technology they choose is high security and can be delivered in a way that ensures higher security is provided at an operational level. Also important is that biometric data is protected at all times.

According to Garnaut, any biometric product is only as secure as the underlying technology it is based on.

“Suprema’s high quality, proven algorithm is extremely resistant to spoof attacks (false fingerprint or fake photograph), but it is important to note that no technology is 100 per cent immune,” he explains.

“High quality biometric products employ a proprietary secure algorithm to ensure accuracy of the identification is achieved. Again, it’s important to understand that no technology can be 100 per cent immune to attack, though Tier 1 products, such as Suprema, offer the maximum possible resistance to all forms of attack and error.”

What’s the most reliable biometric technology in Garnaut’s opinion – fingerprints, face recognition, something else?

“All high-quality biometric products should provide a reliable solution for identification, however, ease of use is paramount for any system,” he explains. “Facial recognition is rapidly gaining traction as the simplest system to use and also avoids issues associated with fingerprint, finger vein and retina type devices. It is important to consider that not all devices are the same and it’s vital to confirm a solution’s anti-spoofing capabilities (false fingerprint or fake photograph). A proven track record is also important when considering which product to deploy.”

Something else that’s vital is getting network security right with biometric readers.

“Any system that employs network connected devices must consider its network security,” argues Garnaut. “If and when vulnerabilities are identified a Tier 1 supplier will develop and distribute software and firmware to rectify the vulnerability quickly and efficiently.”

Another issue that may concern installers is managing the process of integration – whether this process will involve a high-level or low-level interface, or whether an integration already exists in the chosen management software.

ALL HIGH-QUALITY BIOMETRIC PRODUCTS SHOULD PROVIDE A RELIABLE SOLUTION FOR IDENTIFICATION, HOWEVER, EASE OF USE IS PARAMOUNT FOR ANY SYSTEM.

“Some access control systems have developed high level interfaces to biometric products in the market,” Garnaut explains. “For instance, Suprema offers a complete access control solution built around its biometric products. From edgetype network connected fingerprint and facial recognition products, to RS-485 OSDP fingerprint slave readers connected to CoreStation, Suprema has a complete access control and T&A solution for the most demanding security needs.”

How important is training when it comes to biometrics, or are the latest readers very easy to operate?

“Modern biometric products are very intuitive to use, it’s important the software is simple and easy for the user to operate,” Garnaut says. “Suprema’s BioStar 2 has an easy to navigate menu that works within Google Chrome web browser that can be operated in conjunction with the BioStar 2 Cloud platform.”

According to Garnaut, biometrics should not be seen as only for larger, high security sites.

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Š 2019 Genetec Inc. Genetec, the Genetec logo, the Mobius strip logo, and the Genetec Security Center logo are trademarks of Genetec Inc., and may be registered or pending registration in several jurisdictions.

Reinforce your resilience

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For more information on these and other best-in-class solutions from Hills Limited call us on 1300 HILLS1 (445 571) or visit hills.com.au

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E N T E RTA I N

Find out how to strengthen your security at genetec.com/SC58

SECURE

27/11/19 2:45 pm

● Special report

Biometrics

“A biometric solution is ideal for any business large or small that needs to ensure the true identity of the person using the system,” he says. “Large business or small, more and more organizations are moving to biometrics to ensure the identity of staff and visitors alike, with the aim to eradicate or substantially reduce identity fraud.”

Something else that will be on the minds of many installers is cost – taking capital expense into account, is biometrics less expensive in the long run than managing a card library?

“There is a cost saving in not using physical cards because there’s no requirement to re-issue lost, stolen or damaged cards,” Garnaut says. “In terms of cost savings, biometric technology if far less expensive if you consider total cost of ownership.”

Over at NoahFace, Geoff Cropley says the most important characteristics of a biometric reader include the ability for it to perform multiple functions.

“This gives versatility to the customers at each door, according to an organisation’s requirements,” Cropley explains. “For example, NoahFace enables facial recognition, 2-factor authentication and a compliance question within 1 device – it’s a solution that has a role to play in both large security sites and also smaller organisations.”

Cropley arges biometric readers are more secure than other authentication technologies.

“We believe biometric devices are far more secure than other technologies, as they enable the level of security to be adjusted if the entry requires a higher

level of security,” Cropley explains. “The NoahFace system enables additional security levels to be dialled up or down according to varying threat levels and is able to be implemented throughout a building as required.”

Protecting users’ biometric data is part of this.

“In the case of NoahFace, data is encrypted on the device and the cloud, and users must provide consent before their biometric data is collected and stored at the door,” Cropley says.

“Without a doubt facial recognition is the most consistently reliable technology because the face rarely changes. By contrast, finger scanner efficacy can be impacted by work related tasks which can affect the accuracy of the reader – for example, solvents used during the day which can affect the fingerprint quality.”

Total cost of ownership is a key strength of biometric solutions.

“Biometrics is definitely less expensive to manage both in terms of people required to manage and implement the system and physical cards - to keep install costs down it’s very important that readers are plug and play,” says Cropley. “And some readers, such as the NoahFace devices and software, can be seamlessly integrated with almost any access control solution.”

Another benefit of biometrics is that interfaces are intuitive – there’s no manufacturing of cards and no process to go through to order them or programme them.

“As with most technologies, training is important although solutions such as NoahFace are easy to use and its self-registration function is seamless, accurate and highly secure, thanks to an ability to deploy 2-factor authentication.”

Alan Thompson of Hills argues read reliability is the key characteristic of a biometric reader technology.

“The reader needs to be able to reliably read a biometric attribute, be it fingerprint or palmprint, that over time will not change,” Thompson says.

“Obviously ease of installation and operation are important, too. This process should be no more complex than installing a classic card reader.”

The most reliable biometric technology in Thompson’s opinion is iris recognition, which is harder to alter and has less chance of a false reading.

And he argues biometrics is less expensive in the long run than managing card libraries.

“Cards can be lost, broken or data can be corrupted leading to card replacement – card libraries also have to be managed,” says Thompson. “A biometric reader keeps same data available at all times and the characteristics are encrypted.

“Encryption is important as this data is stored on the network and must be safe from hacking or unauthorised editing, as this data cannot be changed, unlike passwords or usernames.” n

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C50 Series

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IP Surveillance Controller

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• Automatic generation of camera Topology map • Topology view / Floor view / Google view • Complete remote cable diagnostic & reboot of camera • Graphical UI for VLAN grouping • PoE management • Monitor, configure & manage ONVIF cameras

27/11/19 1:37 pm

● Special report

SAGE 2019

SCENES FROM SAGE 2019, ASIS ACT SEMINARS SAGE 2019, in partnership with ASIS ACT, brought the latest and greatest security solutions to security professionals in the nation’s capital for the 4th year running.

AGE 2019, ASIS ACT Seminars and Dinner held at the Realm Hotel and the National Press Club in Canberra last month proved a successful event, with plenty to see and many excellent networking and learning opportunities. The head of ASIO T4 gave a thoughtprovoking address on the expo floor that captured the full attention of security solutions providers and the ASIS ACT dinner comedians were more than usually entertaining.

A great event – thanks to all involved – we look forward to seeing you all again next year!

S

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30 years of innovation. And it feels like we’re just getting started.

Building security and safety solutions for residential and commercial premises across Australia & New Zealand.

Now and well into the future.

Connect with us at Interlogix Australia

Visit our website at www.interlogix.com.au

Š 2019 UTC Fire & Security Australia Pty Ltd trading as Interlogix. All rights reserved.

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22/10/19 10:06 6:30 am 27/11/19

â—? Special report

SAGE 2019

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27/11/19 10:06 am

● Product review

Tecom

TECOM CHALLENGERPLUS I expected to have no trouble wrapping my head around the new Tecom ChallengerPlus and its new installer software, CTPlus. But the capabilities of Tecom security management solutions and the enormity of its layered ecosystem turned out to be considerably greater than my expectations.

NY single element of Interlogix’s Tecom security management ecosystem is a complete solution in its own right – this makes trying to synthesise them after an hour-long demo tough. Defining the overarching solution by its functionality isn’t easy, either, because the scope of that functionality is short on limits. Each element interlocks - not only between product groups but in a temporal sense – and this backwardscompatibility adds another dimension.

Unlike other systems, a majority of the older Tecom panels can be entirely reinvigorated by firmware upgrades (and a spot of hardware) to offer the latest features and functions, including modern software management, IP reporting, and

A

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BY J O H N A D A M S

troubleshooting via the UltraSync cloud and the TecomPlus app. It’s like this because Interlogix’s latest software solutions are not dependent on installing the latest hardware – instead they are built to work with any Tecom hardware you happen to have around your organisation.

On the management side are TecomC4, CTPlus for configuration, and the TecomPlus Mobile App – these solutions can overlap in some applications.

On the network side, there’s UltraSync. And when it comes to hardware, the ecosystem includes Tecom ChallengerPlus, Network Access Controller, older controllers, including V10 and V8, and a range of expansion modules. How you mix and match these components is up to you and the needs of your client.

In terms of getting your head around the management side of Tecom, it makes sense to think of TecomC4 as being a PSIM-like management system that brings any collection of sub-systems together in an open environment. How open? If you have a sub-system you want to incorporate

into a TecomC4 solution you use the open SDK to create a new driver. If you don’t have the expertise, you can ask Interlogix to help but chances are another customer has created the driver and it has been incorporated already.

Operationally, what TecomC4 offers is global enterprise management not only of all your Tecom systems, but any other security and automation systems you want to bring to your management workstation. This holistic capability is what makes TecomC4 so awe inspiring functionally and so hard to pin down conceptually. As a management solution, TecomC4 turns into whatever you need it to be and delivers its functionality in digestible form – you don’t need a Masters in Archaeology to sift through fine layers.

When you’re managing single sites, you reach for CTPlus Configuration Software, which allows you to configure ChallengerPlus and Network Access Controller, as well as the Challenger10. Folded into this is the TecomPlus Mobile App, which drives over UltraSync cloud. UltraSync delivers a secure, end-to-end IP monitoring path that allows CTPlus and ChallengerPlus to securely connect to mobile devices or professional monitoring services. It also allows remote troubleshooting for technicians.

On the hardware side we’re looking at Tecom Network Access Controller and Tecom ChallengerPlus in this demo. Each of these controllers has specialisations, though they can be installed together in the same housing as a solution evolves. Network Access Controller is a commercial access control and intrusion detection solution that reports direct to software or can be managed through a control panel. Meanwhile, ChallengerPlus is a cost-effective access control and intrusion detection solution that incorporates lift control and more.

AS A MANAGEMENT SOLUTION, C4 TURNS INTO WHATEVER YOU NEED IT TO BE AND DELIVERS ITS FUNCTIONALITY IN DIGESTIBLE FORM – YOU DON’T NEED A MASTERS IN ARCHAEOLOGY TO SIFT THROUGH FINE LAYERS.

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● Product review

Tecom

Both panels are capable of significant evolution, depending on your client’s needs. When I first saw Network Access Controller adrift in its huge housing my first thought was ‘expandability!’ The controller is more compact than any Tecom controller before it and that means there’s loads of real estate in the can for expansion boards, a big power supply, batteries, comms modules and anything else your customer requires.

According to the team, the benefits of smaller controller size include lower install costs and reduced project management costs across the entire Tecom ecosystem – cost reduction has been a key driver, not just of design, but of hard to predict costs, like licensing.

“With Tecom Network Access Controller, it’s price per panel, not price per door, which is another major benefit,” Hills’ Andrew Zafra explains.

“License fees are approximately $A100 once-off (retail) for 8 doors and approximately $300 RRP per ChallengerPlus supporting 96+ doors with the option for a support plan. What this means is that you don’t have to worry about all the different types of door licenses or agonize that if you’ve gone over a certain number of doors, you’ll have to up the license.”

When you dig down into system expansion, the system’s capabilities start to come through – they are considerable. Zafra says ChallengerPlus supports 32 standard doors + 96 intelligent doors and 2 Lifts across 10 floors, along with 16 alarm inputs expandable to 1008 in 99 areas. But even in basic form, this system has plenty enough for most SME applications. In fact, the idea with ChallengerPlus is to ensure integrators don’t need to upsell endlessly to get the job done. Everything required for most applications is already there and in the latest version there are some neat capabilities to make management, installation and maintenance easier.

These include UltraSync connectivity integrated into the panel, Twin Trip detection, stay mode app

THE BIGGEST WE’VE DONE SO FAR IS A 900DOOR HOSPITAL (THE POTENTIAL GOES UP TO 250,000 DOORS) AND THE SYSTEM WILL SUPPORT 65,000 USERS.

and software arming, remote PIN change function, DHCP config, console warnings at the RAS for entry/ exit times (that’s a thoughtful addition), as well as support for standard doors and standard lifts built in. There’s OSDP for reader comms and you can use Tecom smart cards, while Aperio and Salto Sallis are integrated into the ecosystem.

ChallengerPlus also features advanced diagnostics, remote configuration capabilities, encryption of communications, auto detection of expansion modules – and this is before you start delving into the expansion capabilities of the system itself.

ChallengerPlus is also designed to make life simpler for integrators by minimising programming and config, while its ability to expand with the addition of Network Access Controller means there’s still tons of potential for growth.

“ChallengerPlus and the Network Access Controller are part of the new family of products and there are more on the way,” Zafra explains. “There are a number of neat things with ChallengerPlus, including dual Weigand readers and lift control from the main panel so you don’t have to pay for extra hardware – it’s free.

“Lift functionality like this might cost $2000 because you have to buy a separate solution with a capacity you don’t need – with ChallengerPlus you can do 2 lifts and 10 floors from the standard controller, which is more than enough for many residential and commercial buildings. The entire controller is designed to reduce installer time on site – everything is contained within it and you don’t have to buy more controller than you need until requirements demand it.

“We find there’s good uptake with local government which has 3-4 large municipal buildings and they will manage door control from one location and then have a lot of smaller peripheral sites,” Zafra explains. “They may have Network Access Controller in a central location and ChallengerPlus in remote sites. But from their perspective, these controllers look identical through the TecomC4 management system and that makes it easy to use.”

Another strength of ChallengerPlus, is integration of UltraSync cloud, which means it delivers IP reporting directly to a control room with no thirdparty GSM or a phone line. There’s no mucking about with port forwarding – and none of the associated security vulnerabilities, either. The moment the panel hits the cloud it’s onto UltraSync and goes through to the elected control room. There’s a 4G option available which allows remote connection via UltraSync.

UltraSync is supported by Amazon servers in Sydney and Melbourne. Setup is very easy with the 4G card or the ethernet cable. UltraSync has all the IoT functions you’d expect - there are a lot of people doing self-monitoring as well as being monitored by a professional monitoring station.

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27/11/19 10:06 am

● Product review

Tecom

“ChallengerPlus also supports TecomPlus Mobile App, which is icon-based and allows users to secure doors, change users, PINs, check alarm history, check event history, arm and disarm areas,” Zafra explains. “The installer can isolate inputs, isolate RAS’s – TecomPlus can be used as a technician’s tool, as well as by end users. The app is very flexible and intuitive. Again, the mobile app is free – same as UltraSync and all the rest.”

TecomPlus Mobile App has all the functionality you’d expect, including cloud and LAN access, push notifications from the panel, the ability to manage multiple sites, PIN management, stay arming, live updating, full user management and quick action on device pages; this functionality allows common commands (e.g opening a door, arming/disarming) to be performed with a single tap. TecomPlus is nicely designed, too. Same as the other software offerings I see, it’s intuitive and you’re not drowning in detail you don’t need.

The other key hardware device we’re going to look at is Tecom Network Access Controller, which has the ability to run independently or to be integrated with ChallengerPlus. Standard, it supports 8 doors and is strong in comms, with IP Direct, IP Extended, Classic, OSDP V2, Salto Sallis and Aperio integrated. Network Access Controller supports 128-bit card data, 10-digit PINs, diagnostics, has built-in automation.

The different mode options have operational meanings. For instance, in IP Direct mode without ChallengerPlus in the cabinet, NAC offers access control of 8 doors and supports 250,000 users, 2000 time zones and 100 holiday schedules.

Switch to IP Extended mode and you bring a ChallengerPlus into the cabinet for intrusion detection support and you can manage 250,000 users, 10,000 door groups, 2000 time zones and 100 holiday schedules.

If you set Network Access Controller to Classic mode you can swap out a legacy Challenger V8 4-door controller with a NAC and deliver access control and intrusion detection across 8 doors, 65,535 users, 255 door groups, 64 times zones with 24 holiday schedules. The appeal of classic mode is that the NAC just wires in using the existing cabling – there’ no training or mucking about. The system continues in the same configuration but can now be managed using CTPlus, TecomC4, TecomPlus Mobile App and UltraSync cloud.

According to Zafra, CTPlus software can configure Network Access Controller and ChallengerPlus.

“The CTPlus GUI is different to Titan – it’s free – there are no licenses and you can download it from the Interlogix website,” he explains. “Along with full management of doors, areas, zones, events and users, it offers in-depth diagnostics so techs don’t need to go out into the field if they don’t have to they can do all their diagnostics from one location – right down to things like checking a circuit’s impedance levels.”

Zafra points out the GUI’s dark mode, which he says makes it easier on a technician’s eyes when programming the system.

“CTPlus gives remote access to the system from a secure location over the UltraSync cloud, which is an IP-encrypted cloud service Interlogix released for all its products,” he says. “With UltraSync, you

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gain access to all your panels over the encrypted cloud – there’s no need for a GSM module, virtual ports, it’s just internet through to the panel and it gives self-monitoring, too. Being able to have access to any of an organisation’s panels, being able to do remote diagnostics on sites like hospitals that are 15,000 square metres – it’s a huge advantage – and CTPlus is free.”

Meanwhile, CTPlus facilitates UltraSync connection to ChallengerPlus panels, has an integrated cloud-based firmware update tool and a comms path wizard. Featuring a GUI interface with tab or floating windows, CTPlus offers advanced editing, cloud firmware syncing for firmware management, cloud connection to ChallengerPlus, status and control tree, hardware diagnostics, PDF reporting, wizards to create doors and comms paths, migration to 4DC and NAC, software update notifications, event flag usage reports and more.

UPGRADING EXISTING SOLUTIONS What’s the upgrade process if you’ve got an older site and want to put in ChallengerPlus and upgrade to the latest software? It’s simpler than you’d think, according to Zafra.

“You take the blue plugs off the old board and replace them on the new board,” he explains. “A lot of people don’t think Challenger ever evolved because it kept the same form factor, but the designers were just thinking about the easiest way for installers to upgrade a site. With some systems the new versions are completely new panels and you have to remove all the plugs and re-do all the wiring but not with ChallengerPlus.

WITH ULTRASYNC, YOU GAIN ACCESS TO ALL YOUR PANELS OVER THE ENCRYPTED CLOUD – THERE’S NO NEED FOR A GSM MODULE...

“Once the old controller has been replaced with ChallengerPlus, the plugs installed on the new board and the board powered up then you’re just working in software. That’s what many people don’t see about the product. The hardware is designed so that it goes into the same enclosure, uses the same plugs – we can add multiple EOLs and these are adjustable in software.”

According to Zafra, Network Access Controller has had Weigand removed – the system supports Salto Sallis, Aperio, Tecom and OSDP - giving integrators a choice to offer customers.

“With this form factor you can drive 8 doors with 6 readers per door from this controller with the addition of a relay card – this means there’s no need to have a second enclosure and power supply,” he explains. “Having the other protocols on board makes things easier – if you can’t do cabling, you’ve got Aperio or Salto and there are modules for Weigand if you must use it.

“Important from the point of view of monitoring and managing a Network Access Controller, this solution has connections straight into TecomC4 – you don’t have to get into another piece of hardware or a Challenger, you can go straight to software via the existing Challenger LAN. You put TecomC4 on a server, workstation – it’s an SQL database so it can be anywhere – it can even be virtual.”

The systems potential is engineered into the cabinet, which is designed to support 5 mag locks using a 5A power supply.

“The box can take 2 batteries and has a big power supply,” Zafra says. “It’s big enough to put another controller and do 16 doors, the 2 power supplies,

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● Product review

Tecom

the 2 batteries. If you want to do monitoring, then the Network Access Controller needs to be connected to a Challenger panel – and you can fit the Challenger panel inside the cabinet. It’s big enough to fit everything.”

TECOMC4 ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT At this point, Zafra starts driving TecomC4 on a laptop. TecomC4 is a solution I’ve seen before but because it’s so lateral it can be a bit hard to wrangle conceptually. TecomC4 doesn’t really have edges – it’s an integrated open software solution that allows installers and end users to bring multiple systems together in a single management interface - access control, intrusion and CCTV - whether local or remote.

As well as allowing operators to drive and manage all their systems from a single interface, no matter the manufacturer, TecomC4 delivers multiple reporting options, too. Behind the scenes is an MS SQL database with Open DataBase connectivity.

There’s support for Network Access Controller Direct, additional support for ChallengerPlus, device tree layout for ChallengerPlus, upgrade from Challenger10 to ChallengerPlus, a new visitor management client, synchronised regions and maps , person counting and HID 37 and HID ISCS 38 card formats. It’s also possible for TecomC4 to work on V8 – you add a TCP/IP module between

the panel and TecomC4 will speak to the panel.

“The key thing about TecomC4 is that it was developed for the end user,” explains Zafra. “Look at the dashboard – that’s all end users need to access the entire system. There are no dropdowns, the GUI doesn’t look like Windows 95. Just as an example, let’s bring up a cardholder – you can do everything you need to do for that person on that one screen.

Having developed the product for the end user we are now coming back to system integrators to make life easier for them as well with CTPlus configuration software.

“TecomC4’s reporting structure is groundbreaking as well – you can filter down to exactly the report you want – if you want to do a report on all these people in ACT you can view everyone’s events, then filter them to see access events. Or you can enter say, Andrew’s access granted events, and all those events will be shown.”

The latest version of TecomC4 ships with 180 integrations and once you have completed the TecomC4 training (either online or via classroom) is downloadable for free. It will run unrestricted for 60 days upon installation but requires a paid licence for full implementation.

“TecomC4 integrates with the following at a minimum; Truvision, Avigilon, Milestone, Genetec – as other management systems become more popular, they can be added. It’s an open SDK – a third party can go and build an integration, or we can.

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And of course, the software is completely free, and licensing is very affordable being by controller, not by door,” Zafra explains. “TecomC4 is an important solution and Interlogix is working with software developers to make this solution the be-all and end-all – the future of Interlogix.

“In terms of upgrades, the latest version of TecomC4 has easier time and attendance reporting and photo ID without needing an extra module – that’s free, too. There’s also active directory integration – a lot of people don’t know much about this, but it’s very handy for integrating HR systems to onboarding or removing personnel easier.

Compared to many other solutions, TecomC4 is user friendly with no technical jargon to wade through for users or integrators but it’s the intuitive integration it delivers that users and integrators will love most.

“Navigation is straightforward – you can see the tree structure that shows who is working for your company and the locations,” Zafra explains. “You can drag and drop a person from NSW to ACT and they will automatically be assigned all the access rights required for ACT – you don’t need to try and find a new access level, remove a person and reprogramme.

“You just pull them over to the new location and you are done. When end users see this functionality, they are delighted with it – and the simplicity assists operators – you can learn to drive the system in 10 minutes. Being able to teach colleagues makes operation more flexible.”

The significance of the latest release of TecomC4 is the added intelligence within the system. There are no user upgrade modules that you have to buy – it’s got huge capacity to store users and events so if comms go down there’s no issue. Once comms is re-established TecomC4 will upload events from remote panels, so you don’t lose any history.

“We are working on the migration path all the time – you can convert a V8 to a Challenger10, or to a ChallengerPlus – it’s a simple process – it’s fully backwards compatible – you’re not worrying about which version you have – everything just works,” explains Zafra. “That’s one of the key things we want to communicate to the market.

“TecomC4 is a powerful solution – it integrates with everything including Interlogix competitors – we don’t want it to be locked down – it’s holistic. You can bring almost anything into it and manage all those systems as if they are a single system. It’s all about being flexible and capable of integrating with anything from the past, present and future.”

Something else that’s important is the seamless way TecomC4 integrates CCTV into security management.

“If you are looking at monitoring CCTV you can drill down to each floor so if you’re looking at integrating CCTV with alarm handling modules the alarm sensor is associated with a camera - it’s just back to the user – they can see the alarm event was

C4 IS A POWERFUL SOLUTION – IT INTEGRATES WITH EVERYTHING INCLUDING INTERLOGIX COMPETITORS – WE DON’T WANT IT TO BE LOCKED DOWN – IT’S HOLISTIC... a contractor arriving late – it all appears in TecomC4 as being part of the same system,” Zafra explains.

“During setup you select the camera you want to associate with an alarm sensor in device selection.

“That’s all included, too. There’s no additional cost for that option, but there is a requirement for NVR/camera integration. Once the camera is associated, TecomC4 reaches into the relevant NVR and pulls out the footage – a tag of the event is made and the clip is tagged but it stays in the NVR until the operator plays it. When you ask for footage it will be retrieved. This association can be local or enterprise – LAN, WAN, cloud, tunnels – as long as the network components can see each other – it’s a very flat architecture, very easy to link via structured cabling.”

TecomC4 is oddly open, isn’t it? I point out.

“Yes – it’s very open, users can do integrations, or we will do integration requests – we find users want to bring in this and that, to economise by retaining legacy if the functionality can be delivered,” Zafra says.

Do you think the market has got its head around TecomC4 yet? It’s such a lateral management solution.

“The market hasn’t got its head wrapped around TecomC4,” Zafra says. “With any new major release, gaining the understanding of the market takes time. We are saying to the market try it – you’ll be surprised. We are getting more uptake with TecomC4 – people are finally beginning to realise just how powerful and capable it is.” n

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● Special report

Intrusion Detection

BY J O H N A D A M S

CHOOSING ALARM PANELS What is the perfect alarm and home automation panel? What features should installers be looking for when they think about upgrading customers to the best solutions available?

T seems a simple thing, laying out the features, functions and parameters of the perfect alarm system but as soon as you start, things become difficult. An alarm system is its electrical path, including the control board, between the sensors/cameras/inputs/outputs and the receiver/s in the monitoring station. The alarm system includes the local network and comms devices, and it includes the power supply required to give local backup for all components in the system’s electrical paths and reporting of power failure via this same secure path. You might also argue an alarm system includes a monitoring station’s ability to detect and report a compromised panel’s polling failure.

The alarm system includes not only local keypads, but wireless keyfobs, and the smart devices and alarm management apps that are running on the devices of users and installers. This latter is a whole security ecosystem of its own. Unsecure smart devices running alarm management apps are potentially a serious liability. An alarm system includes security protocols of the alarm management app and it should also include the security settings of the smart device supporting the app. Professional providers should

I

recommend smart device settings that maximise the security of any common mobile device that might be used to manage their remote applications.

A perfect alarm system is defined by its communications capability. In some applications, the more open your communications channels the more vulnerable your solution might be and there are layers of risk here, too.

An alarm panel that communicates with every wireless path known to man is an extremely flexible solution that allows an installer to connect a vast array of devices. But for higher security applications such comms agnosticism may be a violation of security procedures. And it’s not just high security sites that value communications security.

There are a number of common wireless communication paths that might be used by devices linked to a security and automation solution, including but not limited to the most common Aussie wireless device bandwidth of 433MHz, as well as 866Mhz sensors, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave and others.

Each has strengths and weaknesses.

Basic 433Mhz alarm sensors and devices (and anything in the 900MHz – 2.4Ghz range) are comparatively trivial to jam with a Jackson Research JR080 device. At the same time, a controller or device using these frequencies is vulnerable to false alarms from the emanations of garage door openers, baby monitors, HF/UHF radios and other wireless stuff. As a local sensor comms path, however, 433Mhz offers low power draw, decent range and no IP address that can be nibbled at by intruders on the other side of the globe. Is 433MHz more reliable than hard-wired? No, but it’s easier to install. In some cases that might be perfect for your application.

From the point of view of installers and end users, perfection is going to mean choosing comms paths that expose assets to the least possible risk. Thoughtful security procedures will need to be worked up in order to establish risk and risk mitigation. Monitoring comms paths are the biggest deal and you need multiple options – again these should be wireless and hardwired – to offer the necessary redundancy and flexibility. Should the perfect alarm panel be supported globally by cloud applications? Yes – if security can be maintained to an adequate standard, remote user access of key management functions is part of the perfect alarm system for almost every customer.

Another challenge for installers seeking a perfect alarm system is whether or not it should be a proprietary solution. You can buy stacks of thirdparty Z-Wave PIRs, flood sensors and whatnot over the internet and link them with a comms agnostic security and home automation system. Trouble is the quality of these sensors can’t be guaranteed. Are they

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● Special report

Intrusion Detection

dual pyro or single? Is that sensor lens Fresnel or just weirdly stamped poly? What range are they really?

What was the expertise of the maker? Did they TEM cell test at the engineering stage?

The way around this may be to go with a proprietary solution – there are plenty of them – that has a good range of quality sensors as well as the ability to link some quirky third-party sensors that might provide functional sales hooks. The downside of proprietary is cost. It’s always more expensive to go with a quality brand name. The panel you choose should have a sensor range that covers indoor and outdoor applications, and on the hardwire side it should be capable of supporting high end NO/NC sensors covering indoor and outdoor applications.

Your perfect alarm panel should incorporate the capacity for video verification of alarm events.

The quality of these images is going to be a matter for consideration. Most importantly, it should be possible to send those images to a monitoring station for assessment and the images should be fit for this purpose. That means they need to have enough resolution and the cameras need to have enough light to get the job done. This is more complicated than it sounds – especially if the camera-PIRs are using low power draw, low bandwidth 433MHz comms.

The presence of automation capability is assumed but how much and how is this to be managed locally and remotely? The complexity of systems varies considerably, with some manufacturers offering a handful of lateral devices, including outputs for lights, air conditioning and gate opening, etc, while others offer a constellation of devices. These might include things like flood sensors, temperature sensors, moisture sensors, gunshot sensors, intercoms and associated door locks.

On the subject of door locks, should the perfect alarm system have access control capability?

Generally, I think it should have this potential. The ability to handle 2-4 doors of access control expands the perfect alarm system’s ability to meet the demands of more discerning homeowners, as well as supporting the requirements of small businesses.

A perfect alarm system should be easy to install and easy to use. There are plenty of alarm systems that don’t get installed properly or used properly because they are too complicated. For techs, it might come down to choosing an alarm system that is not too complex to properly program using an LCD keypad or going for a solution that can be setup remotely via browser. It might mean menu programming on a touch screen.

For end users it might come down to requesting the system has a longer arming delay on entry and exit or installing the internal siren somewhere that doesn’t give workers or homeowners heart attacks 30 seconds after opening the front door at midnight. End users will also value a coherent interface that doesn’t look like it was designed to run on a .

The perfect alarm system has the ability to be divided into areas/partitions so it can be installed

with more flexibility. And it has perimeter protection capability so users can arm the front line of the system and then move around the house with impunity, with no fear of being assaulted by 120dB of screamer that will add grey hairs and offend the neighbours.

The perfect alarm system has very long-life wireless key fobs with good but not kilometres of range that can’t be accidentally activated when tossed into over-stuffed handbags. These fobs should be manufactured to a quality standard, should be weatherproof and compact. LED feedback on the fob is good and if combined with audio feedback, that’s better.

When it comes to user interfaces, a good alarm system has multiple options – starting with LCD and going through to touch screens. There are still some LED-based user interfaces around. A perfect alarm panel can communicate with users with audio messaging and tones as well as using icons or text alerts/updates on its keypad. It can also communicate using text, email, notification to smart devices and can be managed by app or browser.

The ability to communicate with users via multiple channels in an intuitive way is a great asset for any system. Are touch screens better than LCD? Given their capacity for enhanced communication with the user yes, they are, though they don’t last anywhere near as long. LCDs are limited – not just when it comes to communication but during programming and troubleshooting, too. Mobile devices are excellent interfaces.

When it comes to troubleshooting, the perfect alarm panel allows secure, remote system status checks, troubleshooting and firmware updates. That’s because the perfect alarm panel’s manufacturer continues to care about making perfect alarm solutions and built its system with the ability to enhanced throughout its life. Finally, you want a long warranty and dependable local support – especially if the manufacturer isn’t local. n

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● Regulars

The Interview

David Lenz, Hills

Hills has divested its AV and Antenna Divisions and is refocusing on areas of growth, including integrated security solutions, technical services and health technologies. Hills CEO and MD David Lenz speaks with John Adams about the company’s plans for the electronic security business.

JA: You’re the biggest locally owned electronic security distributor in Australia now – what’s your message to the market?

DL: Yes, we are the largest locally owned distributor in the electronic security industry by a significant margin. Our message to the market is look out, we’re coming. The recent announcements that we are exiting the Antenna and AV businesses feed show our intentions. Hills is a security, IT and technical services distributor now – there’s no mucking around – there’s a clear focus on what we are doing. There is a new clarity that is good for us and good for the market.

JA: The Hills of the future is going to be a more focused business?

DL: Absolutely – more focused and more streamlined. There are many efficiencies that come with being more focused than we have been. We are putting more customer-facing people out in the market with a focus on supporting our key vendors; Carrier (UTC), Axis, IDIS and Genetec. We’re going to be pushing hard and telling the market about our new products and solutions – things like ChallengerPlus and TecomC4, Reliance XRpro – it’s a good, solid range that solves people’s problems in the real world.

JA: Back to the future for Hills?

DL: You could argue that in a good way.

We have been on an interesting journey, but I think the future is about having more clarity around the business and that is the clear message – we are in the health technology and electronic security markets, this is what we are doing – nothing else.

It’s probably been easy to take pot-shots at Hills over the last couple of years but

where we are at now we are still the largest player in town and we need to act and operate like it – to improve our customer service, to improve every part of the business, including our supply chain.

JA: Does local ownership give you fingertip control over the business?

DL: Yes, and we want to give that fingertip control back to our team. We have people who are very passionate about what they do, and we want that passion to reach the market. From our point of view, the new structure means we have a very clear way to talk about the company to the market. We are in health, including patient engagement and nurse call, and with distribution it’s security, IT and technical services – that’s all we do.

talent, drive and experience and we will continue to attract key talent. What’s been positive for us in our divestments has been the transition of staff – the AV and comms businesses have been incorporated into strong businesses in which there’s a real future for the expertise of our people. Our goal in these divestments has been to ensure the business continues and former staff careers continue, and that everyone is a winner.

JA: Where are you growing right now?

DL: We’ve just opened a new branch in Nerang on the Gold Coast – plenty of people are coming through. We are seeing more activity around all the branches – this comes back to the leadership of the team. Our growth is linked to the new products and solutions coming through.

There are some good things happening that will really shake up the market.

JA: Looking at the numbers from Hills’ financials the profitable niches are clear. This obviously informed decision making at board level when it came to focusing the business?

DL: Yes, definitely – we can see our future lies in the health, security and technical services sectors. But alongside those numbers there’s the exclusivity of the products we have, the branch network we have, the quality of the people we have - they are all huge assets and we need to leverage them in a more effective and more focused way.

JA: In what ways are you empowering the team in terms of day to day operations?

DL: We just changed our phone system over the past couple of months – it used to be that our phones overflowed to a central location but now if you call a branch, you get that branch – customers are happier with that. Tech support has a state-of-the-art call centre grade phone system that has delivered a huge improvement in efficiency and customer service. The tech support team has been expanded to 10 people.

We are attacking the areas we think are important and that local connection is what’s important for customers – they love local support. And when you talk about national technical support teams, they need to be trained by a rigorous training process to understand the new products coming out. There are other aspects that are important – our recreation of distribution to make it more efficient for customers plays into improving our service, too.

JA: The importance of relationships between people in the security industry can’t be underestimated, can it?

DL: People are the key and we have a great team across Australia and New Zealand. Victoria for example is a revitalised team with a balance of

JA: Is the electronic security business harder than it was in the past?

DL: The challenge in modern distribution is dealing with change. Nothing stops in business – you must keep moving forward. We are meeting change by putting new technology through the business – new stock management and

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D AV I D L E N Z W I T H J O H N A D A M S

THE CHALLENGE IN MODERN DISTRIBUTION IS DEALING WITH CHANGE. NOTHING STOPS IN BUSINESS – YOU MUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

BI tools – that inform the team what new stock is coming and when it will arrive. We are feeding that information back out to the team so they can offer better service to our customers. The website – you take off comms and AV we have a security and IT website that’s easier to navigate.

These changes will help drive our focus on customer service. I’m excited about where we sit now – we’ve cleared the air.

JA: You’ve been in distribution a long time, David. Has the process you’ve been through over the last couple of years been the most engaging?

DL: It’s been the most engaging process of my career and the most challenging, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve gone through a lot of change. It’s important during such a process that the team stays focused on the end goal, asking ourselves what we are trying to achieve as a publicly listed company and as a service provider. Obviously, part of achieving our goals is about delivering profitability for shareholders but from the point of view of customers it’s about the service levels we provide and how we go about providing those service levels. And for our vendors it’s about executing in the market for them and for our customers, so we are

all successful. You can’t lose sight of that because it’s the core of the business. So, yes, it’s been a journey, but we are getting there.

JA: Do you have a message for the Hills team?

DL: I think the message for the team is that we are without a doubt one of the major players in the local market, we have a selection of great brands and we are going to establish a winning culture for our staff and customers. I am excited about where we are today. I think the changes we have made, and the renewed focus will drive accountability back to the team – there will be more ownership of the business from our people and we will be a more agile business as a result.

The next 12 months is going to be exciting times for all of us. n

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● News Pictorial

NAS

NAS LAUNCHES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH TIANDY

NAS Brisbane launched its distribution partnership with CCTV manufacturer Tiandy at the Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane recently.

t was a great night, with beautiful views over the Brisbane River, excellent canapes, and a great product demo, which showed the power of Tiandy’s big domes with powerful low light capabilities.

The Tiandy range demonstrated at the event included turret, dome, bullet and PTZ cameras, server and NVR-based solutions, and video management software. It’s a nice range that’s well-made and the performance in the challenging conditions across the darkness of the river was surprisingly strong.

NAS’s Tim Prag said the NAS team was delighted to be distributing the Tiandy range and he looked forward to offering NAS customers more of the same excellent service they were used to.

Meanwhile AK (Akademos) of Tiandy said the company was excited to be working with NAS Brisbane and was delighted to be bringing its comprehensive range of CCTV solutions to the Queensland market. n

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avigilon.com/airports | asksales@avigilon.com Images of product features and user interfaces have been simulated for illustrative purposes. © 2019, Avigilon Corporation. All rights reserved. AVIGILON, the AVIGILON logo, HIGH DEFINITION STREAM MANAGEMENT, HDSM, HDSM SmartCodec, ACCESS CONTROL MANAGER and AVIGILON CONTROL CENTER are trademarks of Avigilon Corporation. Other names and logos mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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● Regulars

Monitoring

Your Monitoring Specialists

1300 130 515

www.bensecurity.com.au

Selfie Sticks Central stations and alarm installers face a juggling act when they put security management capability into the hands of end users through browser-based apps. It’s the power of instant notifications and video verification to smart devices that puts the industry into a position where a delicate balance must be found.

ND users now have considerably more control over their security systems than ever before.

The key question is whether or not it’s possible for quality alarm panels to offer capabilities like app-based management and reporting, while also supporting traditional monitoring stations. Products need to be so easy to use that end-users feel an immediate familiarity with the product, yet complex enough so that a professional installer is still required to put the system in and program it. Manufacturers need to offer a full range of self-monitoring options, while still offering value through a centrally monitored service.

“Alarm panels that offer these security and home automation choices to end users, while supporting installers and monitoring stations will do well,” says Matt Bailey of Hills.

“To have a multifaceted control panel that can not only provide traditional alarm monitoring but also be able to offer end users the option to receive email, SMS or phone notifications, while also giving direct control and integration with the alarm panel via an app is the way of the future,” he explains.

“Many installers are already taking

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advantage of these abilities to enhance sales with expanded functionalities for new installs or upgrades of products like Hills’ Reliance.

At Ness, Neil Morgan believes that finding a necessary balance between user control of security and automation, and retention of monitoring business is vital.

“This is exactly what we offer with the SmartLiving system,” he says. “It has the ability to dial 15 numbers with a combination of voice dialling and monitoring Stations as well as via IP and GPRS paths. And if the system has the SmartLanG (IP communicator module) then app and web browser management on top of the previously mentioned monitoring methods are available as well.

“Not only are we supporting cloud applications in future releases, but we have built our own cloud service, the Nessosphere, which supports Ness products at extremely competitive subscription rates.”

It’s worth considering whether or not the best possible monitoring solution for alarm and automation solutions isn’t a hybrid, with users able to manage their systems from wherever they are via mobile apps and browsers, as well as

“RUNNING ALONGSIDE THIS SELF-MONITORING FUNCTIONALITY COULD BE PROFESSIONAL MONITORING SOLUTIONS SUPPORTED BY MONITORING SOLUTIONS EMPOWERED BY DEEP LEARNING TO REACT TO AND ESCALATE REAL INTRUSION EVENTS MUCH FASTER.”

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Proudly brought to you by

Your Monitoring Specialists

1300 130 515

www.bensecurity.com.au

being able to receive direct notifications and emails with attached video footage on relevant platforms. Running alongside this self-monitoring functionality could be professional monitoring solutions empowered by deep learning to react to and escalate real intrusion events much faster.

There are a number of reasons professional alarm monitoring remains a vital service.

In the first instance, 24 x 7 monitoring is an extremely low cost, high quality protection service that never sleeps. Supported by thoughtful procedures in the event of alarm activation monitoring is a powerful tool. For anyone serious about protecting valuable property, an alarm system monitored by a professional monitoring station, whose staff and response teams have knowledge of the protected business, can’t be beaten.

The nature of typical DIY products comes into play, too. Most DIY alarm systems sold by large retailers and OS telcos are built to a price point by nobody knows who. DIY solutions have not evolved through long exposure to the pressure of market demands in the way established alarm panel and intrusion sensor brands have.

Professional installers want reliable solutions and security manufacturers know this and they have been giving installers and end users what they need for decades, DIY is not about living, breathing installation businesses, supported by monitoring stations, manufacturers and distributors.

Cloud-based DIY is not going to go away.

It will continue to pressure intrusion alarm manufacturers to lift their game, to out-invent opportunists who mistake the security business for an engine of recurring revenue that is not driven by dependability, support, strong warranties and ongoing product development.

Something else that’s obvious is that the best security and automation solutions are extremely capable, cover every conceivable application parameter and make DIY products look feeble. The latest alarm and automation solutions are powerful and expand laterally, not just today but into the future through support for multiple comms protocols – Wi-Fi, Z-wave and more. n

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● News report

Integration

SMART BUILDINGS: DEFINE BEFORE YOU INTEGRATE Researchers have examined the concepts of occupant-centric control in the burgeoning field of smart buildings and found few demonstrations and no standards. They propose future directions for OCC research by providing recommendations to address these challenges and to standardize OCC implementations.

MART buildings as an idea are still young – there is no accepted definition yet, but one of the best illustrations of the concept is occupant-centric control (OCC). This involves using data gathered from occupants, the indoor environment and the outdoor climate to optimize occupant comfort and control and energy efficiency.

The building’s functions – lighting, heating, access control, CCTV, AC, intrusion detection, window blinds and so on – would be run by a control system that learns information like room occupancy patterns, light use and temperature adjustment. For buildings with dozens or hundreds of occupants, this can have wide-ranging effects on overall energy costs.

However, while the concept of the smart building is exciting to architects and engineers, it has not yet been widely seen in a real building. There has been research, experimentation and simulations, but overall the implementation of the OCC principle has been unfocussed and inconsistent.

In a new paper published in the journal Building

S

We realized that very few researchers have been able to actually implement these control approaches in real buildings for many logistical reasons.

and Environment, Mohamed Ouf, assistant professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, has looked at case studies in the existing OCC research and assesses the path forward.

“We scanned the literature for relevant work that has been done on this topic and analyzed its different attributes in detail,” says Ouf. “We realized that very few researchers have been able to actually implement these control approaches in real buildings for many logistical reasons.”

Ouf is one of 6 members of Concordia’s new interdisciplinary Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Communities and Cities research team, which identified several challenges facing OCC implementation based on their review of the existing research.

The field’s newness means there is still no agreedupon definition of what the term even means.

Does the control approach prioritize occupancy patterns? Or does it focus on occupant behaviour and their interactions with building systems? How much physical control should an occupant have in an automated building? Which metrics – security, comfort or energy efficiency – are prioritized, if either?

Second, OCC’s reliance on data means serious technological and privacy issues need to be addressed. The current research largely avoids studies of interconnection between different indoor environments, so a whole-building approach, which will be needed as the field advances, will require significant networking and software development.

As well, steps must be taken to ensure occupants’ data information is secure.

Regardless of the opacity of the notion of smart buildings, Ouf says he is optimistic about OCC’s future.

“This whole niche of occupant-centric controls is still very new and provides exciting opportunities to combine advancements in data science and artificial intelligence with building engineering,” he says.

“I’m currently establishing a lab at Concordia to implement and experiment with OCC in a real building environment. We will have 4 offices that are heavily instrumentalized with sensors and actuators to analyze occupant comfort and interactions with building systems. We will also develop new control algorithms with the goal of improving energy efficiency as well as comfort.” n

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● Case study

Pacom

PACOM REVS UP With the use of motorbikes on the rise all over Spain, integrator Cettec Seguridad and PACOM have developed and integrated a PACOM 8002 solution allowing Mimoto Parking to offer cutting edge access control and intrusion detection technology to keep motorbikes secure across its facilities. growing number of people are turning to motorbikes as their primary method of transport due to Spanish cities becoming increasingly congested. According to a study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and the UAB Department of Geography, Barcelona is now the European city with the highest number of motorbikes per inhabitant. The research found that 372,278 trips are made on motorbikes every day.

Motorbikes began to experience a boom when the Spanish government enacted a regulatory measure that allowed car drivers with 3 years of experience to switch to motorbikes with a capacity up to 125cc.

Although this has brought many benefits, it has also created a significant problem for users – where to park their motorbikes. Unattended motorbikes are vulnerable to theft and vandalism, so protecting them has become a key concern.

It’s this situation that prompted Alicante-based motorcyclist, Alejandro Martin, to create Mimoto Parking.

“We want our customers to be able to keep their motorbikes secure and avoid the fines associated with illegal parking,” Martin said. “We offer a revolutionary service where owners can safely park and store belongings such as helmets, jackets and

A

gloves in lockers. Users can access our parking lots on a 24/7 basis and go about their business without worrying about their motorbike’s security.”

The system works by allowing customers to register online for free. After registration users are sent a 6-digit personal and non-transferable access code to obtain a parking space. They then identify the facility that is most convenient, key in the 6-digit code via a keypad when they arrive and enter and park. Utilising a pay as you go concept, when leaving users simply re-enter the same code and Mimoto Parking automatically charges them for the duration of their stay. Each facility is remotely monitored via Ralset’s alarm receiving centre (ARC) and a full intercom system offers users assistance when they need it.

“When developing Mimoto Parking we knew that our success would hinge on our ability to implement access control and intrusion detection technology that could not only guarantee the highest levels of security but also be intuitive, straightforward to roll-out across multiple sites, and be as reliable as possible,” Martin said. “In order to find out more about what we could do, we invited leading security integrator and PACOM-approved

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partner, Cettec Seguridad, to come in and hear about our requirements.”

Cettec Seguridad configured a solution based around the PACOM 8002 integrated access and alarm controller – an all-in-one platform that integrates the functionality required for a remote security system. PACOM 8002 supports autodiscovery of peripheral devices for simplified installation and all doors can be individually configured to operate via card only, PIN only, or card and PIN, with access schedules providing additional control. Furthermore, doors and alarm points can be partitioned into different areas of security and controlled by multiple keypads. The PACOM 8002 system needed to integrate seamlessly with Mimoto Parking’s mobile app and allow the ARC to monitor events.

According to Alfonso Lorenzo Robledano, business development director for Southern Europe at PACOM, Cettec Seguridad asked Pacom to make some adaptations to the PACOM Graphical Management System (GMS), which is based on a data communications platform that successfully integrates access control, alarm monitoring, video surveillance and many other building services into

a single, remotely accessible system.

“PACOM’s technical experts were able to modify the software’s algorithms and design new schematics to meet Mimoto Parking’s exact requirements and, in addition, deliver uninterrupted system operation, intelligent self-testing and multiple back-ups,” Robledano said.

As well as allowing customers to communicate directly with personnel at the ARC, the modified PACOM GMS can also manage the parking occupancy status at each site. Signs can be operated to indicate availability and the system can even be remotely reset when necessary. This level of scalability also means that new technologies can simply be added to as they are developed, offering Mimoto Parking the ability to further develop the system as required and future proof its investment.

PACOM and Cettec Seguridad collaborated to ensure that the system can be quickly and easily rolled out across any new sites as they are acquired.

Each system controls one entry and one exit door using a single controller and keypad, which means minimal wiring and allows minor adjustments to be made as necessary.

Mimoto Parking’s Alejandro Martin is delighted with what has been achieved and praised PACOM’s willingness to work closely with his team and Cettec Seguridad to devise a unique solution.

“Our ability to keep customers’ motorbikes secure is fundamental to our success and therefore we needed to be 100 per cent confident that the technology we installed was able to meet this objective,” Martin said.

“PACOM’s experts were a pleasure to deal with and as keen as we were to optimise our entire security and access control infrastructure. I’m looking forward to working together in the future as we expand Mimoto Parking and introduce new sites to our portfolio.”

The response to the service has been so positive, according to Mimoto Parking, that the company has plans to open more than 40 facilities by 2021. n

Latest version of PACOM’s robust 8000 series controller.

FEATURES OF PACOM 8002 CONTROLLER: l

Dual Ethernet ports

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Slots for expansion card connection

Auto-discovery of peripheral devices FEATURES OF SALTO

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lACCESS CONTROL INCLUDE: Dual-flash memory allows firmware upgrades

while system active

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IP/RS485/ RS232 ports

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Offline card and event transaction memory

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Supports most card readers

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Multiple alarm area and keypad support

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Up to 256 inputs/64 outputs

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Peer-to-peer connections

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Small, medium and large variants for complete flexibility.

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● Regulars

Products

Editor’s choice

What’s new in the industry.

7-INCH BTICINO VIDEO INTERCOM FROM HILLS

NETAXS INTEGRATES WITH MAXPRO CLOUD

l HILLS Bticino door entry kit is a stylish, yet affordable intercom

l NetAXS is now integrated with MAXPRO Cloud, a fully integrated access control and video security as a service platform.

Ideal for small to medium businesses, MAXPRO Cloud makes single or multi-site building security simple and scalable. Users can manage their security system from anywhere at any time via any standard web browser or our innovative award-winning app.

Remote configuration and management of sites, devices, schedules and users reduces operational costs and streamlines efficiencies across multi-site installations. The cloud-ready NetAXS-123 panel makes installation easy with plug and play connectivity, auto registration of doors and readers and no expensive servers or site software to install, reducing creation costs and installation time.

Designed for small to medium, single or multi-site businesses this innovative system easily grows and scales with your customer’s needs.

system for the home.

The kit offers basic functionality of a door entry system with call, intercom, and door lock activation presented with a simple elegance the Hills team points out is the hallmark of Italian design.

The internal unit is a hands-free video unit with a 7-inch colour display and a choice of 12 ringtones to fit your personality. The entrance panel is a tiny 12cm x 5cm but manages to contain a speaker, colour camera and a hidden LED light for night vision.

The kit contains everything most homes would need but is expandable to include up to 4 additional internal units and 1 additional entrance point .

Distributor: Hills Contact: 1800 685 487

Distributor: Consolidated Security Merchants Contact: 1300 663 904

HIKVISION 12MP FISHEYE CAMERA l HIKVISION has launched a new 12MP Fisheye IP camera (DS-

2CD63C5G0) with artificial intelligence, 120dB WDR, 15m IR range and IK10 IP66 ratings. This 360-degree panoramic camera uses an Immervision lens and deep learning technology to deliver a more accurate AI functionality. It gives an enhanced view of its surroundings, which is especially useful in large retail applications.

The cameras’ 360-degree panoramic image of the scene before it, means the user can see a wider area much more clearly. This is enhanced by independent control of a three-way infrared light, which can be separately configured to reduce the amount of reflective wall space. This improves image quality, especially when placed in a corner location.

The deep learning algorithm focuses only on human targets, improving the accuracy of the AI functionality. This means users can see hotspots in a space, showing areas that people visit, or pass, the most. An added layer to heat map visualization makes it a lot clearer than previous technologies. There’s H265+ compression technology, multiple expansion modes, with up to 15 live view display modes available, and 3 different mounts.

NEW WISENET PENTA-BRID DVRS FROM EOS AUSTRALIA l HANWHA Techwin in association with EOS Australia has announced new Penta-brid hybrid video recorders which allow analogue and IP cameras, as well as the analogue HD cameras, to connect to the same recorder. Penta-brid recorders support a future-proof migration from analog to IP camera technologies when the end-user is ready. Available in 16, 8, and 4 channel configurations in resolutions up to 4K UHD, Wisenet Pentabrid recorders can convert any channel at any time between analogue and IP with a simple software switch, so there’s no additional investment needed. The Penta-brid line offers a familiar interface while accepting multiple camera brands and technologies - AHD/TVI/CVI(4K)/CVBS/IP(4K).

Distributor: EOS Australia Pty Ltd Contact: +61 2 9749 5888

Distributor: Hikvision Distributors

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DAHUA BLUETOOTH SMART LOCK FROM LSC

BQT READER RANGE FROM CSM

l DAHUA BLE digital lock with app management has 4 different

l CSM is Australia’s premium provider of BQT Solutions and has a broad range of BQT products designed to suit the most demanding access control requirements where suitable verification and mutual authentication is assured using trusted encryption standards.

BQT products are suited for applications including hospitals, airports, prisons and government and enterprise applications.

Included is a broad range of off the shelf products and CSM can also organize purpose tailored solutions for your application.

modes of operation, including PIN code, Mifare credential, Bluetooth Low Energy and mechanical key. Once a lock is paired, it’s easy to enrol pin codes and cards, as well as share unlimited one-time use codes via text and email, making access for visitors simple and secure.

Features include privacy password: xxx+password+xxx, preventing password to be seen by others; passage mode and non-disturbance mode option and auto lock response to consecutive invalid passwords or cards. The lock has an audit trail, field changeable handing, low voltage alarm (<4.5V), storage for 50 cards, 50 passwords and 8 Bluetooth devices. There’s emergency power supply outside and options of black or metallic finishes on the zinc alloy lock body.

Dahua’s smart lock supports Mifare 1 and gives contactless high security opening with a read distance of 20mm and a read time of 500ms. Passwords can be 6-12 digits in length and power supply is 4 x 6 AA batteries – use of alkaline offers 12 months battery life depending on use.

Distributor: CSM Contact: 1300 663 904

Distributor: LSC Contact: 1300 646 269

X2 CABLE IN STOCK AT CSD l X2 range is made up of a variety of cables to meet every

installation requirement from access control and intercoms to data and readers installations.

The X2 range also offers a special range of cable to suit a specialised type of reader – the Belden 8723EQ screened cable which is perfect for installing OSDP and Sifer readers. X2 also offers access control composite cable designed to save time.

Running a single, 100 per cent copper cable consisting of 1 data cable for Sifer or standard card readers, 1 x 4 core 14.020 for REX & breakglass, 1 x 6 core 14.020 for tongue sense, handle position and reed switches, 1 x figure-8 14.020 for lock power together in a green PVC outer sheath, eliminates cable jagging.

In most cases it eliminates the need for a 2-tech job, reducing installation costs. All X2 cable is made from 100 per cent copper conductors and is designed and manufactured to meet Australian specifications, sent to you in tough durable packaging ready to tackle your next job.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

GENETEC RELEASES 3-SENSOR AUTOVU SHARPZ3 LPR, ANALYTICS CAMERA l GENETEC has unveiled its next-generation mobile license plate recognition system, featuring Intel Movidius VPU technology with edge-based deep learning capabilities, including vehicle analytics, situational awareness, and greater accuracy.

The AutoVu SharpZ3 system also features 3 optical sensors in the camera to provide additional analytics such as the precise positioning of detected objects, and a modular chassis to allow users to easily add new functionalities in the field without the complication and costs of hardware replacement.

“With the AutoVu SharpZ3, vehicle-based ALPR technology is about to enter a new phase in its evolution, made possible by Intel’s high-performance, low-power, deep learning VPU,” said Stephan Kaiser, general manager of AutoVu at Genetec.

“By bringing powerful deep learning processing into the device itself, we are no longer limited by the constraints of traditional computer vision techniques or server post-processing. The new AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable cities and law enforcement organizations to go far beyond simple license plate character recognition.”

Distributor: Hills Contact: 1800 685 487

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● Regulars

Help desk

Q: Is it possible to guarantee perfect CCTV camera performance by using only the best cameras?

A: It’s best to think of the digital video stream as a representation of a scene. You’re never going to get perfect performance across a 24-hour light cycle. You’ll have to deal with all the usual oddities from lens distortions to digital rebuild artefacts, variable latency that’s worse with backlight or low light. There’s going to be motion blur aplenty, blooming, strange tone mapping effects – these are going to vary depending on the quality of the hardware and firmware you’re using. Digital camera systems put a great deal of work onto an image stream during processing – it’s so distinctive it’s possible to identify some camera brands from the characteristics of their image streams in certain conditions. Having said all this, I think it’s possible to guarantee better camera performance by choosing the camera that’s right for your application. That camera needn’t be the ‘best’ camera, or the most expensive. It’ll be the one that gets closest to an ideal operational performance desired by your security team. Some camera models and some camera brands do perform better than others but it’s surprisingly hard to pick these days.

Our panel of experts answers your questions.

Q: When doing maintenance testing of existing solutions, do you think there’s any value in testing for continuity?

A: Testing for continuity allows the technician to establish whether or not a circuit has a whole electrical path.

Most testing devices will usually only handle low resistance circuits and the resistance of a path depends on the circuit – too complex or too large (with too much resistance), and a test unit may not give an indication of continuity even if a clean path exists.

Because of this, you’re best off using continuity testing only for cable plants, fuses and switches. You can also use your DMM’s continuity function. You’d set current at around 2mA. With continuity testing if the resistance of the circuit is 50 Ohms or less then the meter will generate a continuous sound – if you hear this sound, you’d consider there might be a short circuit. If resistance is 50 to 100 Ohms, then there will be a brief sound when the test probes are placed across the circuit. Greater resistance levels generate no sound. While you test continuity of a circuit, the display on your DMM will show you the voltage drop across the circuit.

Q: What’s the maximum distance we can run an alarm system zone loop in larger industrial applications?

A: The diameter of the wire is important here because if the wire’s small you’ll get greater power loss through resistance.

Quite simply, the larger the diameter of the wire, the greater will be its capacity to carry a given current for a longer distance with less loss. It’s best practice to use a wire with a larger diameter than you need - that’s much better than having one that’s too small, though there are cost issues.

In terms of their ability to carry power, 18 AWG twisted pair will give adequate 12V performance at up to 200m, 16 AWG will give you just under 300m and 14 AWG will handle just under 350m. Bear in mind that 14AWG is relatively heavy and expensive cable. If you’re using the modern 6-core cables from Belden, DCS X2 and others, bear in mind these are likely to be good quality but being multi-stranded, their core diameters may be smaller than the AWG measurements mentioned here. If in doubt chat to suppliers about what’s possible.

Q: Is plastic fibre as good as glass fibre optic cabling in terms of performance?

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A: Plastic fibre has much tighter bend radius than glass fibre – great for getting decent bandwidth into tight spaces.

Plastic is strong. This added strength means you can be less careful during installation without cracking or breaking plastic fibres. It also means the fibres can withstand serious vibration. But coupled with its strengths are some weaknesses.

The greatest of these is a dislike for hot environments. Anything over 85 degrees C may destroy a plastic fibre run.

Plastic also has less bandwidth and suffers greater losses, the latter resulting in reduced performance over the big distances where glass fibre really shines. When we say greater losses, we mean much greater – at 650nm plastic fibre has an attenuation of 150dB per kilometre, while silica glass fibres lose just 5dB per kilometre (100/120 diameter pipes at 20Hz). Even awesome lab grade plastics are still around 50dB per kilometre in the loss department.

The problem with plastic fibre when it comes to range is the carbon-hydrogen and carbon-oxygen bonds that hold its atoms together. These absorb large amounts of visible and near infrared light and have a major impact on light loss characteristics. Counterbalancing these negatives is the fact plastic fibre can be blown into place with pneumatics, which is awesome and cost effective in terms of bandwidth. Generally, there are sites of a size that are perfect for plastic fibre – big but not airport perimetersized, with many cameras and some restrictions on budget.

Q: Is it possible to add a simple tamper switch to a PIR detector that does not have one?

A: If you want to protect simple PIR sensors attached to small domestic and

commercial alarm panels from being bridged you can put a 24-hour tamper into the system, but you’d want to do it at the start of the installation. It would mean pulling 6-core cable and designating one zone on the panel as a 24-hour tamper.

The result won’t be zone tamper, it will be a general system tamper. We’d be thinking about replacing the sensor with another that has a tamper alarm on the housing.

Q: After great trouble we’ve established increases in impedance in one of our device cables was down to water damage – apparently the drought caused cracking, and this allowed water to get into conduits during recent storms.

We could not understand the symptoms at first – the conduit was relatively new, the cabling was high quality and the plan showed no midrun connections but when we pulled the cable out of the conduit we found an unshrunk butt connector in the middle – this had allowed water to access the electrical path. If you were looking for water damage during troubleshooting, what signals would you focus on?

A: As water reaches the cable through open connectors or penetrates the cable sheath what you’re going to get first is noise on the wire indicating high frequency leakage between the conductors. This is because water conducts electricity very well.

You’ll also get greater impedance, though this may not be measurable, even on an oscilloscope, and the level of isolation will fall. As the copper corrodes further, you’ll get increasing resistance and more noise. Eventually you’ll get constant or intermittent false alarms. If you can’t ensure the conduit won’t leak and the zone is vital, use gelfilled cable.

Q: Is it possible to increase the focal length of an ordinary CS-mount CCTV camera lens?

A: Yes, you can double the focal length of a CS-mount lens using a 2x teleconverter.

The teleconverter is fitted to the camera between the lens and camera body and once installed will multiply the focal length of the lens by 2. A teleconverter will increase the F-stop value of a lens by one. Never add a teleconverter and then attempt to back focus the modified camera. It’s far simpler to back focus the camera and install the teleconverter afterward. Pay attention to the focus, sharpness, contrast, chromatic aberrations and noise after you’ve added the teleconverter. Additional elements added to the optical equation always attenuate performance. What you are doing with a teleconverter is exchanging image quality for reach – the increase in pixel density doesn’t cancel out the addition of aberrations in our experience. Field testing will tell you if the exchange is delivering operational benefits.n

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DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE 416

SELECTING BIOMETRIC READERS

events l Anixter To Be Acquired For $US3.8B Cash l Scenes From SAGE 2019, ASIS ACT Seminars, Dinner l Product Review: Tecom ChallengerPlus, Plus, Plus l Intrusion Detection: Choosing Alarm Panels

PP 100001158

l The Interview: David Lenz, Hills l Pictorial: NAS Launches Partnership With Tiandy

SecTech Roadshow 2020

l Alarm Monitoring: Selfie Sticks l Smart Buildings: Define Before You Integrate

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l Case Study: Pacom Revs Up in Barcelona

Dates: May 2020 Venues: 5 city Australian tour Contact: Monique Keatinge +61 2 9280 4425 SecTech Roadshow in its 6th year takes leading electronic security manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers on a national tour.

Security Essen

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Date: September 22-25, 2020 Venue: Messe Essen, Messeplatz 1, Essen, Germany Contact: +49 (0)201 72 44-524 Security Essen 2018 draws 950 exhibitors from 43 countries to show their security and safety innovations to 36,000 visitors from 125 nations at Messe Essen, Germany.

Security 2019 Exhibition & Conference Date: July 22-24, 2020 Venue: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre Contact: +61 3 9261 4662 Security Exhibition & Conference is the industry's annual opportunity to reunite for 3 days of quality networking and education.

SECURITY & GOVERNMENT EXPO

=

Security and Government Expo 2020

The Rea

Date: November, 2020 Venue: Canberra Contact: Monique +61 2 9280 4425 SAGE 2020 is the perfect opportunity for government and commercial end users, as well as integrators, installers and consultants, to see the latest security products and technologies in the nation's capital city in a relaxed and informal environment.

DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY.

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