SEN September 2018

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE 402

STATE OF PERFECTION l Fredon, Chubb Security, Saab Power Clarence Correctional Centre l Product Review: SCSI Redefines Alarm Systems l News Report: Hills Returns to Profit, Security Grows 2 Per Cent l Special Report: Best Products of Security 2018 l Case Study: Northern Territory Police Get Upward Mobility l The Interview: Mark Cunnington l Alarm Monitoring: The Internet of MQTT l Case Study: Shoalhaven Council Installs Panasonic CCTV l Special Report: Selecting The Perfect CCTV System

PP 100001158

SEM0918_1cover.indd 1

28/8/18 5:01 pm

IP intercom AD Oceania 0820.pdf 1 2018/8/20 9:47:44

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

K

Intercom gets human.

Enter Hikvision’s updated video intercom solution…

•IP support cloud – Users can monitor entrances, control doors and answer phone calls from anywhere, with surveillance managed via a user-friendly mobile app.

•Hikvsion Lift Control compatibility – The system allows visitors easy elevator access to the floor they are visiting, while ensuring the security of residents on other levels.

•Hivision CCTV integration – The intercom station serves as a monitor screen for live surveillance streaming from outdoor CCTV cameras.

•Free software – Users enjoy integrated management of their Hikvision intercom system and CCTV products, featuring remote door monitoring and control, as well as notification and alarm capabilities.

Hikvision Oceania Unit 14a, 2 Eden Park Dr, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Tel: +61 2 8599 4233 Email:salesau@hikvision.com www.hikvision.com.au

SEM0918_2.indd 1

28/8/18 9:43 am

editorial S E CU RI TY E L ECTR O NI C S & NETWO R KS S E MPE MBER 201 8 ISSUE 4 02

By John Adams

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AS A SERVICE COMES OF AGE LOUD has already had a considerable impact on the alarm monitoring market but while the technology has existed to support CCTV solutions in the cloud for many years – think Genetec Stratocast – for most users the cloud surveillance equation has never quite added up. This is probably not surprising historically, given the bandwidth demanded by a single high-resolution video stream. However, over the past 5 years plenty has changed in key areas like network infrastructure, mobile app intuitiveness, as well as in the area of customer acceptance and expectation.

However, while bringing a VSaaS solution to market might be challenging for CCTV suppliers, that same rule doesn’t apply if you own the network. And that’s the case when it comes to Telstra’s new video surveillance as a service solution, which the company says provides end-toend management of video surveillance network, from design and installation through to maintenance, monitoring and support for day-to-day use, leveraging a flexible business model which reduces the upfront cost of replacing legacy devices.

A strength of anything Telstra does is going to be an ability to scale regionally but perhaps what’s most interesting about Telstra’s VSaaS CCTV solution is the performance vectors. Australia’s biggest telco is optioning its solution with analytics, including facial recognition, smart alerts and license plate recognition. When you’re trying to ensure you only send the video you need to see over networks, this focus of IVA makes a lot of sense.

Something else to take note of is Telstra’s seamless sense of the verticals. When outlining the service recently, Telstra’s head of electronic security products, Tamora Wells, said that an early adopter of the solution was a regional council, which had

C

Australia’s biggest telco is optioning its solution with analytics, including facial recognition, smart alerts and license plate recognition. cameras set up on a bridge leading out of the shire. These were upgraded to IP cameras with licence plate recognition analytics, which gave council staff a record of vehicles arriving and leaving for use in support of police investigations.

Wells also pointed out that the system was just as capable of assisting retailers thanks to an open platform that can be integrated into a CRM system that tracks customer preferences, as well as being integrated with smart devices to allow management to put eyes onto alarm events or other alerts and check in-store processes. According to Wells, there’s currently no cross-industry approach to video surveillance and most businesses still require a bespoke solution to integrate these new analytics into their businesses systems.

“Our unique ability to tie together all the network connectivity, scalable cloud services and technical services can dramatically simplify video management – particularly when among enterprise customers who are managing very large networks across geographically diverse sites. No one does regional connectivity like we do,” Wells said. “We based our managed video surveillance on open-platform video management systems, owing to their ability to be quickly tailored to work both with a variety of security platforms.”

News of Telstra’s move into VSaaS doesn’t come in isolation. There’s a distinct trend towards video surveillance as a service from companies that might once have deployed DVRs or NVRs to handle CCTV needs. Benefits include ease of installation, lack of on-site hardware, ease of scaling solutions and modest entry threshold. You pay for the cameras you need, rather than needing to install significant infrastructure onsite. It’s true that VSaaS is likely to work best for smaller solutions, or remote site solutions. On a big site with live monitoring and recording of hundreds of cameras, VSaaS is not going to cut it.

Or is it?

Consider the U.S. Department of Defense and the $US10 billion Pentagon War Fighting cloud network currently being fought over by half a dozen of the world’s largest network providers.

Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) will reshape American warfare by absorbing, processing, and analyzing intelligence, sensor, and troop data, and by facilitating communications through the Defense Department’s worldwide network.

The JEDI contract calls for a single cloud platform at the tactical edge, a move that will put a commercial company in charge of hosting and distributing mission-critical workloads and classified military secrets to warfighters around the globe. Key, too, the winning solution must host classified data within 180 days of the contract award and meet standards to host Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information within 270 days. The Pentagon insisted in June, when defending its single-cloud concept, that multiple clouds would reduce “the ability to access and analyze critical data,” while the “lack of a common environment for computing and data storage” would minimize the effectiveness of AI and machine learning.

Now you can see the correlation poking through. It seems to me what’s most fascinating about JEDI isn’t that it has led to a brawl between Amazon, Google and a collection of traditional high technology defense contractors. It’s that taking core warfighting capabilities into the cloud is being considered at all. And not on the basis of TCO – on the basis of security and centralised AI. At the heart of the single cloud concept is the fact it’s much easier to defend one high end cloud than to protect multiple remote networks or multiple cloud networks – that’s a compelling development for us all. n

se&n 03

SEM0918_3ed.indd 3

28/8/18 5:07 pm

SECURECALL 1345 PORTAL





The SecureCall Portal is a powerful management tool for inbound 1345 alarm call traffic. It is powered by SCSI Cloud technology and receives signals directly from Optus IN Network Equipment. The Portal gives you peace of mind knowing your data is extremely secure, including transparent call validation with data updated every 5 minutes.



- Transparent & Detailed Alarm Call Reporting.

- Email Alerts based on predefined settings.

- Alarm Call tracing including Private Numbers.





COMPLETE REPORTING

Painful hours spent auditing are a thing of the past! Find the exact signal you are looking for in seconds, including identifying private numbers.

PROVEN



Processing in excess of 10 million alarm calls per month, the SecureCall Portal is a proven service used by leading security companies Australia wide.



1345 VIRTUAL REDUNDANCY SERVICE



1345 Redundancy allows Control Rooms to use our hardware and data centre as a redundancy solution for overflowing traffic.



SECURECALL REDUNDANCY FEATURES  Call overflow - for busy times.  Call failure protection - line cut / failure at the Monitoring Centre.  Call no answering - specific receiver failure.  Total disaster alarm traffic management - ability to send your alarm traffic to another facility.  Dual hosting of the service as SCSI Data Centre and the Optus Expan Data Centre.  Full audit trail is available, and independently verified through the SCSI SecureCall Portal.

A

ER OM EL ST AN CU M P R LA

PS

TN

RE

CE

IV

PH OUONE TA LIN GE E /B US RE Y DU ND AN CY

ER

 SC S VI I RT U

AU CM

TO S M SY AT ST IO EM N

SU

PA

TH

 AL

NS

SE

HI

NE

AF

RE

CE

IV

ER

DC

 4 E G DU VOL AL VE LIN KS

OR

D







DC

S

P

C

D D

1300 555 570 sales@scsi.com.au www.scsi.com.au

SEM0918_4_5.indd 4

28/8/18 9:43 am

R

E KS

MANAGEMENT PORTAL  See all Live status information.  Remote Access.  Create additional logins & choose the access level eg.

Employee, Customer  Run Reports  Submit Feature Request  Run Reports - DTU Serial Communication, Signal Strength, I/O Events, DTU Command, Panel Activity Timer, Panel Events - If there are any more you would like to see, please submit a feature request and we can do it.

M S AR NG ES AL ORI EL P T E I IR KU N TR O W C M CEN BA

OPTUS EVOLVE PRIVATE IP SERVICE

OPTUS/TELSTRA WIRELESS PRIVATE IP SERVICE (SCSI APN)

Y AR M S RI CES s P les AC ire ctWsole e r DW SECURE Di Con s les ire A W y ct re wa Di ate G s les ire B W y ct re wa Di ate G

TELSTRA OPTUS CU S DS TOM L E RO /ADS R UT L ER

INTERNET GATEWAY

DT

U3 G L /I AL ITE P AR M

 Bug Tracker  Access to all SCSI Portals  Over The Air Upload/Download Available using the DTU3G/IP Lite.

TECH APP

END USER APP

 Live DTU status

 Arm/Disarm your panel

 Ability to configure DTU options

 See live status

 Run reports - Signal Strength, Polling, Events

 Run alarm event reports from the app

 Control I/O Ports on DTU

 Pin Code Access

 Pin Code Access  1 Login for multiple accounts Handy for techs who report to more than 1 CMS

SCSI IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OVER THE AIR DOWNLOAD SUPPORT USING THE DIRECTWIRELESS NETWORK. Panel List: Concept 3/4000 Type 2 DAS NX4 DAS NX8

DAS NX12 DASNX16 DAS R8 DASR128

PARADOX MG5050 PARADOX SP6000 PARADOX SP7000 PARADOX EVO192

SOLUTION 16 PLUS SOLUTION16I SOLUTION 64 SOLUTION 144

SOLUTION 6000 SOLUTION ICP-CC488 SOLUTION 862

TECOM CHALLENGER V8 TECOM CHALLENGER V10

1300 555 570 sales@scsi.com.au www.scsi.com.au

0 u u

SEM0918_4_5.indd 5

28/8/18 9:43 am

3RD ANNUAL

SECURITY

& GOVERNMENT EXPO W W W. S E C U R I T YA N D G O V E R N M E N T E X P O . C O M . A U F O R F U R T H E R I N F O R M AT I O N C O N TA C T M O N I Q U E K E AT I N G E O N 0 2 9 2 8 0 4 4 2 5

EXHIBITORS

MEDIA PARTNER

LE ADING INDUSTRY PARTNER

TM

ACT Chapter

SAGE DPS AD_SEPT18.indd 6

28/8/18 1:12 pm

FREE EVENT REGISTER NOW!

November 8, 2018 Canberra Bringing the latest security products and technologies to government and commercial end users, installers and consultants in the nation’s capital from 12-6pm.

ASIS seminars 9am - 4pm Free refreshments 3.30 – 5.30pm

Enquiries please contact Monique Keatinge +612 9280 4425

SAGE DPS AD_SEPT18.indd 7

28/8/18 1:12 pm

10

30

50

28: HILLS RETURNS TO PROFITABILITY, SECURITY BUSINESS GROWS 2 PER CENT

SEPT 18 10: FREDON, CHUBB SECURITY, SAAB POWER HIGH SECURITY CLARENCE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE AHEAD Australia’s largest prison, Clarence Correctional Centre outside Grafton in northern NSW, remains on track for completion mid-2020, with 10 per cent of cells built, 20 kilometres of in-ground services installed, 350,000 cubic metres of earth moved, and half the perimeter security fence completed.

20: SCSI REDEFINES ALARM SYSTEMS Almond hub-based security, automation, network access and management solution is an impressive collaboration from SCSI and manufacturer, Securify. It’s a system designed to deliver almost everything to almost everyone – that includes professional installers and monitoring stations. The question is, does it deliver on the promises?

SEM0918_8cont.indd 8

HILLS Limited, Australia’s largest electronic security distributor, announced its FY18 full year results today, which showed the company has returned to profitability, delivering a $A8.3m improvement on the previous year’s results.

30: BEST PRODUCTS OF SECURITY 2018 Last month we got started on a run-through of the best products at Security 2018 Exhibition. In Part 2, we delve deeper and try to come to some conclusions about exactly where electronic security industry is headed.

36: UPWARDLY MOBILE Mobile Camera Security and Security & Technology Services in Darwin have worked closely to win a contract for the manufacture and supply of a fleet of 10 customised Trailer-Cam Mobile CCTV Trailers for the Northern Territory Police.

46: OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

SEN editor John Adams speaks with Mark Cunnington, senior vice president of security, and Tim Martin, senior vice president APAC, about Anixter’s acquisition of Inner Range and CSD.

28/8/18 5:06 pm

60

64

54

regulars

36

52: SHOALHAVEN COUNCIL Shoalhaven Council has installed a Panasonic video surveillance solution comprising more than 100 IP cameras, including internal and external dome cameras, outdoor box cameras and PTZs, as well as NVRs, across 10 sites to enhance security and safety of assets, council staff and the public.

54: THE PERFECT CCTV SYSTEM Choosing the perfect CCTV system is a balancing act, with performance and cost inevitably opposing one another. For end users it’s vital to make sure the system selected meets achievable operational requirements. Installers, meanwhile, need to listen to their customers, without falling into the trap of over-promising.

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE 402

STATE OF PERFECTION l Fredon, Chubb Security, Saab Power Clarence Correctional Centre l Product Review: SCSI Redefines Alarm Systems l News Report: Hills Returns to Profit, Security Grows 2 Per Cent l Special Report: Best Products of Security 2018 l Case Study: Northern Territory Police Get Upward Mobility l The Interview: Mark Cunnington l Alarm Monitoring: The Internet of MQTT l Case Study: Shoalhaven Council Installs Panasonic CCTV l Special Report: Selecting The Perfect CCTV System

PP 100001158

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.

50: MONITORING There’s been plenty of fretting in the CCTV industry about the cyber security levels of CCTV cameras. Do the same issues apply to some Internet-facing smart home devices and systems? Possibly – it all comes down to the configuration of communications paths and the level of integration applied between network devices and lightweight management controllers.

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

64: 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: taniasdesign@ optusnet.com.au

22 months A$195.00 (incl GST)

Subscriptions 11 issues per annum One year (11 issues)

Overseas 11 months A$220.00 22 months A$440.00

Australia 11 months A$110.00 (incl GST)

WEBSITE www.securityelectronics andnetworks.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form in whole or part without prior written permission of Bridge Publishing.

SEM0918_8cont.indd 9

28/8/18 5:42 pm

NEWS IN BRIEF SEPTEMBER 2018

FREDON, CHUBB SECURITY, SAAB POWER HIGH SECURITY CLARENCE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE AHEAD n AUSTRALIA’S largest prison, Clarence Correctional Centre outside Grafton in northern NSW, remains on track for completion mid-2020, with 10 per cent of cells built, 20 kilometres of in-ground services installed, 350,000 cubic metres of earth moved, and half the

perimeter security fence completed.

The facility incorporates a serious electronic security integration, including 1650 IP surveillance cameras controlled by the overarching Saab OneView security management system, as well as biometric access

control and location monitoring, a security intelligence team and an emergency action response team.

Clarence Correctional Centre has 1700 beds, including 1000 beds for maximum security male offenders; 300 beds for maximum security female offenders

and 400 beds for minimum security male offenders.

According to Minister for Corrections, David Elliott, the new prison would inject $A560 million into the local economy over the next 20 years creating 1100 jobs during construction and 600 once operational.

“This is the nation’s Vlado Damjanovski largest prison and has a strong focus on security, surveillance as well as rehabilitation of inmates,” Elliott said.

There are several security and electronic contractors, including Chubb Security, while Fredon Electrical is providing a sitewide medium voltage network, electrical

lighting and power, as well as 3 site-wide communications networks on behalf of overall contractor, John Holland.

“We are delighted to once again be involved in delivering critical infrastructure to serve the Australian community,” said Fredon’s group managing director and CEO, David Simpson, recently.

Meanwhile, Saab Australia is currently installing 60 per cent of the conduit and cabling – the data backbone of the OneView security system which will control all electronic security – within the Clarence Correctional Centre.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DECLARES WAR ON COMMON ACCESS CARDS n ACCESS credentials could be on the verge of change with news the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Pentagon’s IT services branch, will start pushing the first prototype replacements for its converged common access card.

The American military’s replacement for the common access card is going to be biometric and smart phone-based to ensure it can be used effectively in the field, and is likely to integrate multiple authenticators.

The DoD’s common

access card is a standard ID issued to up to 2 million service personnel in the U.S. and is used for building and area access, as well as for accessing computers and networks.

DISA has been working on at least 7, including face recognition, voice recognition, gait recognition, hand pressure, wrist tension, device orientation, GPS location, as well as associated factors including trusted peripherals and networks.

“Prototype devices for establishing assured identity are being

developed right now,” said Vice Admiral Nancy Norton, DISA’s director, at an AFCEA cybersecurity operations conference in Baltimore in May. “The first few will arrive this summer to assist with determining the right test parameters”.

According to Nextgov, Steve Wallace, technical director at DISA said the authentication pilot program was coming from a private company using DISA funding and that biometric technology will be embedded in

smartphones. Partner organisations using the technology will receive a risk score for a person attempting access, allowing them to make an authentication decision.

According to Wallace, the new tool will be installed on smartphone

chipsets and will be able to continuously gather and verify encrypted identifying information.

Wallace told Nextgov, the capability would be available in mobile devices within a couple of years and will be used widely.

10 se&n

SEM0918_10news.indd 10

28/8/18 5:01 pm

Heartland Bank NZ Seeks Maintenance of CCTV, Access Control, Alarms p.12 Alarm.com Device Sales, Renewals Grow Strongly Through Q2 p.14 University of Sydney Transforming Facilities Management, Upgrading Security p.16 Ipswich City Council Takes Safe City to Tender p.18

COMPILED BY JOHN ADAMS

CITY OF SYDNEY SEEKS CONSULTANTS TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM PLAN BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11 n CITY of Sydney is seeking to engage suitably qualified and experienced security consultant/s to undertake work to improve the security and safety of council-owned buildings and public spaces, including crowded places, to conform to the Strategy for the Protection of Crowded Places from Terrorism Plan.

The engagement will be for an initial period of 3 years, with options for extension for an additional 1 + 1 years. The maximum contract term is 5 years. The provision of these services may be

increased or decreased based on the priorities of the City. Engagement under the contract does not guarantee work on part or all these services.

In 2014, the Australian Government raised the National Terrorism Threat Level to ‘Probable’. This reflects the advice of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) that groups and individuals continue to possess the intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia. While State and Commonwealth agencies hold much of the responsibility for responding to the

terrorism threat, local governments are important partners identified within the National CounterTerrorism Plan.

The objective of the Strategy for the Protection of Crowded Places from Terrorism is to “protect the lives of people working in, using, and visiting crowded places by making these places more resilient.”

The Strategy states that “all owners and operators of crowded places have primary responsibility for protecting their sites, including a duty of care to take steps to protect people that work, use or visit their site from a range of foreseeable threats, including the threat of terrorist attack.”

Under the Strategy, owners and operators are required to complete self-assessments and security audits of their crowded places. The City has completed preliminary vulnerability assessments for locations within the City which could be defined as crowded places, including buildings, malls, parks, and events. These assessments will be used to determine priorities and the program of work under this contract.

Tenders close at 11am AEST on Tuesday September 11, 2018.

THE CITY HAS COMPLETED PRELIMINARY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY WHICH COULD BE DEFINED AS CROWDED PLACES, INCLUDING BUILDINGS, MALLS, PARKS, AND EVENTS.

GENETEC CLEARANCE ADDS ABILITY TO CROWDSOURCE VIDEO FOOTAGE

n GENETEC’S new file request feature is designed to make it easy for the general public and private businesses to contribute to crime-solving efforts by sharing relevant video and photos from their smartphones and surveillance systems with law enforcement agencies.

“As we turn to our phones to capture life’s events, and as video surveillance increases, so does the amount of digital evidence created by personal devices and private systems.

For investigators, getting access to this evidence can be tricky, especially since large video files are difficult to share. With the new file request feature in Genetec Clearance, agencies can quickly put out requests for evidence, and maximize their efforts when collaborating during an investigation,” says Erick Ceresato, product line manager at Genetec.

To use the feature, investigators create a file request link or QR code that can be shared with the public in a

WITH THE NEW FILE REQUEST FEATURE IN GENETEC CLEARANCE, AGENCIES CAN QUICKLY PUT OUT REQUESTS FOR EVIDENCE, AND MAXIMIZE THEIR EFFORTS WHEN COLLABORATING DURING AN INVESTIGATION. variety of ways such as via social media, on the web or on the news.

Contributors can then upload videos, photos and other evidence directly into Clearance for police officers, investigators and security managers to review and use as part of their investigation.

Since Clearance can accept a wide variety of proprietary file types and file sizes, it is easy for private businesses to upload digital evidence from their surveillance systems even if they are very large files.

Once uploaded, all case information remains private and secure and user actions are tracked to maintain chain of custody.

se&n 11

SEM0918_10news.indd 11

28/8/18 5:02 pm

NEWS SEPTEMBER 2018

HEARTLAND BANK NZ SEEKS MAINTENANCE OF CCTV, ACCESS CONTROL, ALARMS n AUCKLAND-based Heartland Bank went to tender last month seeking a regular and preventative maintenance solution for monitoring, access control, CCTV and intruder alarms.

The bank’s solutions include a Gallagher Command Centre, as well as video surveillance

cameras and server-based VMS software. Heartland’s procurement team says it is seeking a solution that will allow adds, moves and changes without penalty.

Heartland Bank has a digital focus it says makes it agile, responsive and able to deliver what customers need with speed

and simplicity. There’s a strong chance the team is looking for a security integrator with similar qualities.

Heartland Bank was founded in 2011 through the merger of 4 financial organisations to obtain national coverage. It obtained its banking licence in 2012. The bank has assets of $NZ3.5 billion, 478 employees and operates from 9 locations.

The tender closed on August 31, 2018.

HEARTLAND’S PROCUREMENT TEAM SAYS IT IS SEEKING A SOLUTION THAT WILL ALLOW ADDS, MOVES AND CHANGES WITHOUT PENALTY.

SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS SOUGHT FOR PORT OF ASHBURTON n PILBARA Ports Authority on behalf of the Western Australia Government is inviting tenders for the provision of security infrastructure and systems at Pilbara Ports Authority’s (PPA) Port of Ashburton. Works include, but are not limited to, the design, supply, installation, integration and commissioning of the following security infrastructure and systems: • Closed circuit television (CCTV) and its associated infrastructure • Electronic access control systems (EACS) and associated infrastructure • Emergency public address and alert system (EPA) and associated infrastructure • Security gatehouse,

TRY ENT S U IND NCEM OU ANN

security gates (swing, boom and pedestrian gates), turnstiles and perimeter security fencing • Power and communication to run the systems and infrastructure • Integration of the CCTV system, EACS and EPA into the existing PPA ICT network.

The tender closes October 3, 2018.

CELEBRATING

20 YEARS

ECS QUALITYSECURITY SOLUTIONS ECS Sevices continue to enjoy strong growth in type 1 defence electronics security and large commercial projects. The ECS team are also growing with the below announcements.

TEAM EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENT

BRANCH FOOTPRINT EXPANSION l NSW l Victoria l QLD RAJ MASSON ECS Services MD

l Indonesia l India

Introducing our ACT branch Ph: +61 2 6292 2675

MASTER LICENCES: NSW ML 4077734225 ACT ML 17502523 VIC REG 852 358 905 QLD ML 3277050

DOMINIC CAMPAGNA Director & Group Executive (APAC) 0437 044 766

PAUL HARRISON Business Development (Consultant) 04367 306 388

RYAN HARTNELL ACT Branch Manager 0405 868 615

www.ecss.com.au

12 se&n

SEM0918_10news.indd 12

28/8/18 5:08 pm

Manage your entire operation from a single interface

Exclusive to Hills

Challenger10

Continuing the evolution...

Now with Genetec integration More integrations coming soon‌

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

facebook.com/HillsLtd/ CONNECT

SEM0918_13.indd 1

E N T E RTA I N

SECURE

28/8/18 9:44 am

NEWS SEPTEMBER 2018

ALARM.COM DEVICE SALES, RENEWALS GROW STRONGLY THROUGH Q2 n ALARM.COM has reported Q2 growth in hardware sales through security cameras, thermostats and system enhancement modules.

The company reported hardware and other revenues in the quarter was $US33.5 million, compared to $27.1 million for Q2, 2017.

SaaS and license revenue in the quarter increased 20.4 per cent from the same period last year to $71 million. This includes Connect software license revenue of approximately $10.2 million for the second quarter, compared to $8.5 million for the

same period the prior year.

“Our SaaS and license revenue visibility remains high with a revenue renewal rate of 94 per cent in the second quarter, at the high end of our historical range of 92 per cent to 94 per cent,” Alarm.com CFO Steve Valenzuela told investors recently.

“Q2 is typically our strongest quarter for hardware sales going into the summer selling season,” Valenzuela said.

Total revenue of $104.5 million for the second quarter increased 21.5 per cent from Q2, 2017.

L.A. SUBWAY FIRST IN U.S. TO IMPLEMENT TERAHERTZ MILLIMETRE BODY SCANNERS HACKED APPLIANCES COULD SHUT DOWN THE POWER GRID, RESEARCHERS SAY n SECURITY researchers from Princeton University argue that hacked IoT devices could bring down an entire power grid.

The Princeton researchers say a botnet encompassing thousands of connected and hacked power-hungry home appliances, like air conditioners and water heaters, could take down the power grid simply by overwhelming it.

Their simulations showed that a power network serving a population roughly the size of California would suffer if there was a 1 per cent bump in demand created

by hacked high-energy demand devices.

“We hope that our work raises awareness of the significance of these attacks to grid operators, smart appliance manufacturers, and systems security experts in order to make the power grid (and other interdependent networks) more secure against cyberattacks,” said the researchers in their report.

“This is especially critical in the near future when more smart appliances with the ability to connect to the Internet are going to be manufactured.”

ADT SNAPS UP INTERNET SECURITY FIRM, SECURE DESIGNS n ADT has acquired internet security tech house, Secure Designs, for an undisclosed sum, giving it a platform for network monitoring and protection. Secure Designs (SDI) has already begun using the ADT Cybersecurity name.

ADT Cybersecurity will design, install, monitor and

manage network defense systems, including firewall services and intrusion prevention to protect small business networks from cyber threats. This multilayered security approach provides active perimeter defense, vulnerability scanning and secure remote access to help eliminate data loss.

Monitored services from ADT Cybersecurity include network monitoring, active hunting, and deep forensic analysis using cyber threat intelligence and real-time threat detection, according to the company. This allows end users to focus on validated threats, reducing the complexity of traditional detection by using technology, coupled with human-based intelligence and internal processes.

“ADT and SDI are the perfect match; 2 companies dedicated to providing business owners with peace-ofmind knowing their greatest investment is monitored and more secure,” states Michael Keen, vice president, ADT

ADT AND SDI ARE THE PERFECT MATCH; TWO COMPANIES DEDICATED TO PROVIDING BUSINESS OWNERS WITH PEACE-OFMIND KNOWING THEIR GREATEST INVESTMENT IS MONITORED AND MORE SECURE.

LOS Angeles Metro has announced a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to deploy Thruvision TAC-TS4 body scanners after a 24-month period of testing.

“TSA applauds the leadership of L.A. Metro for its proactive efforts to evaluate, procure and use state-of-the-art technology designed to detect potential threats to the transit system,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

“TSA is pleased to have been a partner during the evaluation and testing process, which ultimately led to the purchase of a recommended system to help detect and deter potential acts of terrorism while keeping the traveling public safe.”

Meanwhile, the Metro says the portable terahertz millimetre wave passenger screening devices will help keep transit riders safe from person-borne improvised explosive devices or other weapons intended to cause mass casualties.

The devices can be placed at locations throughout the Metro system and come equipped with software that is said to quickly and unobtrusively screen individuals for concealed threats. They scan for metallic and non-metallic objects on a person by identifying objects that block the naturallyoccurring waves produced by the person’s body.

Cybersecurity.

“Cybercrime is a real threat to the livelihood of small businesses across the country. It is imperative that we provide our customers with a complete suite of solutions to help ensure every point of entry, whether physical or digital, is protected.”

14 se&n

SEM0918_10news.indd 14

28/8/18 5:08 pm

SEM0918_15.indd 1

28/8/18 11:46 am

NEWS SEPTEMBER 2018

BALLARAT HEALTH SERVICES EXTENDS PERS ALARM TENDER DEADLINE n BALLARAT Health Services is still seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified security contractors for the design, supply, installation, commissioning and 12 months operational support and maintenance of a Mobile Duress Alarm System across all its operations.

The initial implementation is to be carried out at Ballarat Health Services Mental Health Adult Acute Unit which is a 23-bed unit that provides short term inpatient management and treatment during an acute phase of mental illness. Clients remain in the Adult Acute Unit until they have recovered to the point where they can be treated effectively and safely within the community.

The Adult Inpatient Unit experiences around 480 incidents of violence and aggression in any given year. Over the past 2 years there have been significant incidents resulting in severe assaults and traumatic

events, which have been witnessed by both staff and patients.

The system will initially be implemented within the Mental Health Adult Acute Unit with a view to progressively implement the system throughout the wider organisation.

The Mobile Duress Alarm System will include: • The design, supply, installation and commissioning of a suitable Mobile Duress Alarm System and its integration as a functional element into the existing Security Management system, • The training, of BHS personnel in the operation and use of system hardware and software, • The operational support, performance monitoring, fault response and system maintenance through the 12 month contractual Defects Liability Period, and • The provision of additional operational support, performance monitoring, fault response and system maintenance for an optional 3-year service term – at the discretion of BHS.

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY TRANSFORMING FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, UPGRADING SECURITY n UNIVERSITY of Sydney is currently undergoing fundamental transformation in the way that operations and maintenance services are delivered across the university precincts. The shift includes a major reprocurement exercise to cover security systems and services.

The re-procurement exercise for hard and soft facilities management services includes: • Appointment of primary service providers with accountability for the planned maintenance (PM) programs for individual or bundled service packages.

Primary service providers may be appointed on a geographical basis at campus level.

• Appointment of panel services providers who

will be approved to tender for packages of corrective maintenance or reactive maintenance works or project upgrade works.

Primary service providers will automatically be appointed to the panel for each individual service package they are appointed to.

A major re-procurement exercise for security services includes: • Technical services to cover control room equipment, access control equipment, CCTV, maintenance works and project upgrade works.

• Human resources to cover the provision of labour and equipment to cover typically, patrols, guarding, concierge, emergency response, functions, cash management and parking management. Service

THE SHIFT INCLUDES A MAJOR RE-PROCUREMENT EXERCISE TO COVER SECURITY SYSTEMS AND SERVICES. Providers may be appointed on a geographical basis at campus level.

Also required is the establishment and implementation of a strategic asset management plan (SAMP) and asset management system (AMS) to enhance the university asset management planning and execution processes, to ensure work is prioritised and focused based upon organisational, stakeholder and risk-based priorities, needs and expectations.

The tender closes August 21.

You’ve got a sexy front end and a sophisticated back end.

But you still need a reliable lock on the door!

www.sprintlocks.com Email: security@sprintlocks.com EN1634 2-hour fire resistance

China prices + British quality control = Unbeatable value!

16 se&n

SEM0918_10news.indd 16

28/8/18 5:08 pm

Stay Untouched.

And Secure Your Security. www.cactusconcept.com

At MOBOTIX, we have developed the unique cactus concept for a reliable and complete protection of end-to-end video security systems. Protect yourself against serious hacker attacks – with an intelligent video system that is ready to go, but can also stand up to the ever evolving challenges of our world. Stay untouched with MOBOTIX!

SEM0918_17.indd 1 mx_Ad_en_180201_CyberSecurity.indd 1

28/8/18 pm 02.02.185:50 11:52

NEWS SEPTEMBER 2018

CSD SEEKS NSW STATE MANAGER, PROMOTES THEISSEN n CSD is searching for an NSW state manager, has promoted Tony Theissen, and needs to fill 10 fulltime positions in the wake of the organisation’s recent acquisition by Anixter.

“Fresh from the completion of the Anixter acquisition, CSD continues to experience strong growth powered by some key product additions to our portfolio and our supportive customer base,” said Peter Grimshaw, general manager – sales & distribution.

“In line with our ‘promote from within’ strategy, we have recently promoted Tony Theissen to the enterprise sales manager – NSW role and are now searching for an

experienced NSW state manager to take on the challenge of managing 20 staff, including the sales team and 2 locations.”

“With growth comes promotions and we have recently promoted 3 internal staff into internal account manager roles and 2 others into BDM roles. It is great to see young people progressing through the company when new opportunities are presented. Our culture is such, that we spend a huge amount of time on training and nurturing talent to come through the ranks,” Grimshaw said.

“Right now, I have new opportunities for internal sales staff and external BDM’s in NSW, Victoria and Queensland - in all

we have over 10 full time positions we need to fill.

We are busier than we have ever been, and this sustained growth has given us the confidence to aggressively add head count.”

Grimshaw said security professionals interested in joining the world’s largest security distribution group should contact careers@csd. com.au Peter Grimshaw

IPSWICH CITY COUNCIL TAKES SAFE CITY TO TENDER n IPSWICH City Council took Safe City to tender last month, seeking wide ranging support for its Safe City branch, which manages Australia’s pioneering Safe City solution. Council said it was seeking to engage a suitably qualified and experienced organisation for the purchase, installation, replacement

and maintenance of infrastructure and system components for electronic security services to Council’s Safe City branch. Services included but were not limited to cameras, network management, access control, alarm systems, electric fences, electric gates and alarm monitoring services.

18 se&n

SEM0918_10news.indd 18

28/8/18 5:07 pm

TecomC4 online training now available TecomC4 training can be achieved in two ways - via classroom training with Hills or online.

Both methods of training will give technicians the required skills needed for installation purposes, as well as the ability to purchase the software.

Online training gives technicians the ability to complete the relevant training anytime, from anywhere.

As a cost-effective method of learning, the TecomC4 online training gives you the flexibility you need to complete the training at your own pace. Once you have been trained you will receive a unique training ID that can be used when purchasing the software, or requesting technical support.

Need to brush up on some of the functions of TecomC4? With a registration ID to the online training portal, you can go back anytime and refresh your skills by viewing the modules again.

Register today at the eLearning Portal at www.interlogix.com.au/training

UTC Fire & Security Australia Pty Ltd trading as Interlogix is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security. Š 2018 United Technologies Corporation, Inc. All rights reserved.

InterlogixAd_August2018.indd 1 SEM0918_19.indd 1

2/8/18 9:55 28/8/18 9:44 am

● Product review

SCSI

SCSI REDEFINES ALARM SYSTEMS The Almond 3S hub-based security, automation, network access and management solution is an impressive collaboration from SCSI and manufacturer, Securifi. It’s a system designed to deliver almost everything to almost everyone – that includes professional installers and monitoring stations. The question is, does it deliver on the promises?

ITTING down with Chad Wright and Daniel Acott in Melbourne recently I got a look at what felt like the future of alarm and home automation. The product in question is SCSI’s Almond 3S (it comes in other flavours, depending on your client’s needs).

“There have been lots of changes in the industry thanks to a fundamental shift that’s now coming very fast,” Wright tells me. “In short, the consumer isn’t wanting just an alarm system these days, they are more truly engaged and interested in the value-add of technology, asking what else can this system do for me?

“The traditional alarms market has changed and is rapidly changing further. In ANZ, we have not been as fast to adopt this change as installers and monitoring providers in the U.S. have been. Here, we are still in our infancy in terms of adopting smart home automation – the

S

20 se&n

SEM918_20almond.indd 20

28/8/18 5:14 pm

BY J O H N A D A M S

ALMOND HAS MANY GREAT ATTRIBUTES – IT ACTS AS THE CENTRAL HUB OF THE HOME, BRINGING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND LETTING USERS CONTROL IT, WITH SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL INSTALLERS AND MONITORING STATIONS.

traditional alarm panel has a limited shelf life in our opinion – the only thing holding on to it is the traditional installer, the consumer is not interested in it.

“Meeting installers’ needs to provide the best possible product to their customers, the Almond 3S product is a third-gen solution combining security, home automation and networking services with hundreds of thousands of previous generation units already installed in homes and business throughout the U.S. market place. Almond has many great attributes – it acts as the central hub of the home, bringing everything together and letting users control it, with support from professional installers and monitoring stations.”

According to Wright, SCSI’s collaboration and solution is designed so integrators can offer professional monitoring services in the usual way, and there’s also the capability to on-sell

telecommunication services. This part sounds a bit oblique, but Almond’s capabilities are not to be underestimated.

“As a device, it’s a network router, an NBN router – this allows our partners an opportunity to on-sell NBN, whether it be fibre to the node, fibre to the premises, fibre to the curb, fixed wireless, or even ADSL,” Wright explains. “This is part of our new upcoming cloud service. We provide integrators with their own portal, they can upload the types of services they want to offer and charge the prices they want to charge, and the consumer has the option to choose and select whatever service they require from the integrator on demand.”

According to Wright, the one box does everything – and that means everything. There’s a PPE connection to NBN, a Wi-Fi range extender, a wireless access point, a full-blown router.

“You never need to pull a laptop out to manage Almond, you can use the inbuilt touch screen or your mobile device,” Wright says. “It’s not about being just a security system – it’s your full network

se&n 21

SEM918_20almond.indd 21

28/8/18 5:15 pm

● Product review

SCSI

IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING JUST A SECURITY SYSTEM – IT’S YOUR FULL NETWORK SOLUTION, YOUR FULL AUTOMATION SYSTEM, YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM, VOICE ASSISTANT. solution, your full automation system, including voice assistant support. It’s also your IoT security system because there’s an IoT security service built-in as well, so it can connect to and monitor all your IoT devices. With a simple command in the APP it can even kick the kids of the network thanks to rules created from a customer’s smart phone to govern network connection and auto disarm when it detects your phone via Wi-Fi. “All the high-level intelligence is already there.

The app lets you manage everything. It will report any connected devices using generic passwords, allowing you to lock them down. You can monitor URLs of devices. It has Wi-fi self-heal, one-touch diagnostics, and self-monitoring that can be managed by the CMS with a fee.

“It’s up to service providers to manage that – we are simply providing our partners with a platform that allows them to do anything they want. We are not dictating what they do, simply providing them with the solution and the ability to do anything they want while retaining very sticky recurring revenue – the stickiest of all recurring revenues is telecommunications.

“If integrators like, we can manage Almond systems from the cloud. Users pay through the portal and config can be done for them. Installers can offer IoT, monitoring and almost any other service – everything can be automatically billed.

There are push notifications managed through the app and sent to multiple users. Users can use the touch screen as a codepad or use their workstation or mobile device to manage the system.

“One day a user might want Almond to be a security system. Another day they might want it to be amazing Wi-Fi performance on the third floor, they might want security on demand, or to integrate IOT devices. And intelligence is distributed. Most other systems rely on cloud to think and if they lose internet connection, they lose their abilities until reconnected. But in the case of Almond, the smarts are cached in the hub. And the onboard cellular modem can be turned on for internet access. This means if the power is out locally you will still have internet access, thanks to 4G modem onboard and backup battery.”

Wright says the collaboration with Securifi has paid dividends – it’s made Almond into a system that offers installers and monitoring stations a tool for recurring revenue generation based not on hot air but real services.

“We partnered in development of the latest version – Almond 3s - to assist with our own practical

purposes, which includes the security side,” Wright explains. “It’s been developed to reflect the fact all telecommunications products are about recurring revenue – a router on its own gets no recurring revenue, a local security controller generates no recurring revenue.

“But combine a smart home device with router capabilities, NBN capabilities 4G LTE, backup battery, voice, video verification, mesh wireless, dual band Wi-Fi, full IFTT compatibility out of the box, Google Home, with all this in one device that manages your entire home, while supporting professional monitoring and professional subscription services for IoT and layers of network connectivity, and all of a sudden you have a product that gives the smart integrator real opportunities.

Every possible security capability is there in one box that also offers full smart home automation capabilities. Almond is a completely different way of thinking about things and we know installers and their customers are going to love it.”

SCSI ALMOND SECURITY SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS Sitting down with the system later on, I can immediately verify Wright’s points for myself.

Almond offers a solid specification. Yes, sure, it’s a hub. But it’s like no other hub I’ve ever come to grips with. Almond is not just holistic in conception and execution, it’s rugged, too. Peering through the ventilation grille on the rear of the unit, the first thing I notice is a substantial finned heat sink. Other feature sets speak for themselves. SCSI is a telco first and foremost, and not just a telco but a wireless telco. Almond speaks of SCSI’s decades-old mindset - a hunger for connectivity to everything.

On the hardware side, Almond has a memory of 256MB RAM with 64MB Flash, the display is colour LCD/TFT 2.8-inch screen support 320 x 240 pixels,

22 se&n

A good clean live stream

SEM918_20almond.indd 22

28/8/18 5:15 pm

SEM0918_23.indd 1

28/8/18 9:44 am

● Product review

SCSI

there’s a USB 2.0 port and wireless comms include 2.4GHz (1.94-3.12 dBI), 5GHz (2.62-6.14 dBI) and Zigbee (2.7 dBI). There’s 1 x Gigabit Ethernet WAN Port, 2 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Ports, WLAN is 2 x 2 11ac, 867Mbps, 2 x 2 11n, 300Mbps, there’s IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n wireless, home automation devices include ZigBee (2.4GHz) with built-in siren, there’s Z-Wave in the US, Canada and Mexico (908.42 MHz), which requires a Z-Wave USB dongle, built-in cellular and a built-In LTE Cat 1 module that supports US, Europe and Australian bands.

Network protocols include TCP/IP, UDP, ICMP, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, NAT/PAT, DHCP, DDNS, WPS and mesh networking.

Other features include parental control, automatic firmware update, SPI firewall, DMZ, port forwarding, advanced content filtering methods (URL blocking, keywords blocking), filtering of IP and MAC addresses, MAC address cloning (for WAN), WAN connection in router mode: DHCP, DSL and manual IP. Operation modes include router, access point and repeater (Wi-Fi range extender). A PIN code can manage LCD touch screen access, there’s cloud and weather information, screen saver, Android/iOS home automation control, wireless connection, multiple SSID; encryption: 64/128/256-bit, and WEP, WPA and WPA2. In terms of range, one unit covers up to 1300 square feet and you can link up to 3 Almond units in a single solution to triple this.

Software features include USB file sharing, USB

3G/4G Modem support for selected models, iOS and Android apps, guest network, MAC filtering, management and configuration via touch LCD screen and web browser. There are hidden advanced features (via WWW), settings available via LCD display (without using PC), selection of operation mode (router, AP, repeater), activation and configuration of guest access (guest SSID), internet connection settings, Wi-Fi security settings, AP mode settings, IP and MAC addresses info, WPS control, passwords check and updates, firmware update, system log view (last several entries), data transfer counter, URL/Keywords filtering, user filtering (IP/MAC) and DMZ settings.

The hand feel of the Almond hub is good. Made of cast alloy and poly, the unit is designed for vertical operation and as mentioned, incorporates dependable fan-less passive cooling. There’s a power LED indicator on the front of the hub, LAN sockets, reset button and a power connector located on the right side of the unit. There’s a stylus for the LCD. Power demand is light – just 1.5A at 12V (Input: 120-240V, 50-60Hz), making Almond ideal for remote solar powered applications - the built-in rechargeable battery with 5 hours battery life is a great addition, too. Operating temperature is strong at -10 to 70C, and the unit is a compact 5.3 x 1.9 x 4.6 inches in external dimensions and has a weight of 1.5 pounds.

My impressions of the specification are that Almond 3s is a hub that’s been designed to meet electronic security industry standards of redundant connectivity, resistance to power fail and extreme environments, while offering levels

24 se&n

SEM918_20almond.indd 24

28/8/18 5:15 pm

of communications security no solid-state alarm controller has ever offered.

SETTING UP ALMOND My little Almond 3s solution includes the hub, a PIR sensor, a reed switch, a smart switch and a smart light bulb. When handing the system over to me, Wright and Acott say they are not going to give any up-front advice – the system is simple enough for me to navigate the process by myself. Later, as I open the boxes and skim-read the instructions, I realise they are correct. Setting up Almond is a pleasure and I found myself really enjoying it – not only in terms of ease of use but wondering what else I could do with the system.

My get-go process is to plug in the hub, power it up and pop a drop cable into SEN’s NetGear switch, hit the power button and wait for the unit to boot up. This process takes a minute or so. The touch screen on the Almond Hub is a compact little thing – only 6 x 4.4cm – and I wonder how I’ll go managing it with man hands. As it turns out, the simplicity of the system – its forgiving capacitive touchscreen seems to guess unerringly what I’m trying to do – means I’m quickly able to get things done and in a couple of minutes, I have the Almond app up on my iPhone, and the browser open on my workstation.

Connectivity is at the heart of Almond and the next thing I want to see is just how easy it is to activate the Wi-Fi component of the system and see how well it works. The business of connecting my phone and any other devices to Almond’s 2.4Ghz or 5GHz Wi-Fi goes without a hitch. I just load the password into my devices and machines and away I go with range extended Wi-Fi. Very nice, indeed.

With the hub powered up, comms established, app downloaded, and browser connectivity attained, my next move is to load up my Zigbee sensors. The first device I connect is the IRP29ZBS-SL pet immune motion sensor. Reading through the spec I can see that targets seem to be within a 10-metre range in the installation diagram, though the useful depth of field of the sensing element and lens combo isn’t mentioned. Happily, my target area, facing the door and front window of the office at about 50 degrees, is about 7 metres from the lens, so no dramas there.

To add a sensor, you open the home screen on the hub with a tap, then tap on the top left icon – Add Sensor – then select Zigbee and tap Add. The screen instructs you to press your sensor’s pairing button and once this is done, the hub and sensor exchange the required handshake and the sensor appears in the sensor list of the keypad, app and browser. As you’d expect, this process is altogether too simple for words and it applies each time you add a sensor. I slot in the PIR, then a smart switch, then a reed switch and finally a smart light bulb.

Each time, the hub and sensor find each other with no dramas whatsoever.

THE HAND FEEL OF THE ALMOND HUB IS GOOD. MADE OF CAST ALLOY AND POLY, THE UNIT IS DESIGNED FOR VERTICAL OPERATION AND AS MENTIONED, INCORPORATES DEPENDABLE FAN-LESS PASSIVE COOLING. In a couple of minutes, the process is over, and I find myself wishing there were more devices. I end up on Amazon looking at Zigbee smoke, smart and PIR sensors – I never expected to be doing that.

They’re not very expensive – between $20 and $50 – but I don’t recognise the brands and decide if SCSI sells them I’ll be better off buying known quality with a proper warranty and support.

More than any other smart home/security/ networking solution I’ve played with, SCSI Almond really has me engaged with the possibilities. Perhaps it’s the networking DNA of the thing – the multifarious comms paths, the rules-based programming of functionality. It might be the underlaying SCSI DNA, too. This is a serious solution - I can’t help noticing the backup battery symbol on the hub screen. It starts out empty and by the time I’ve got everything sorted it’s half full.

Hard not to like that. Combined with 4G LTE and

se&n 25

SEM918_20almond.indd 25

28/8/18 5:15 pm

● Product review

SCSI

THIS SYSTEM HAS SO MUCH LATERAL CAPACITY AND SO MUCH DEPTH IT WOULD BE A RARE END USER WHO COULD SHAKE OUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. passive cooling you have a robust solution with Almond.

While on the topic of Almond’s home screen, it really is a simple affair that lets you delve into functionality simply and easily. Most installers are going to use the touch screen just to get things up and running and then revert to tablet or smart phone for the heavy lifting. But using the compact little touch screen is a snap. Compared with the old way of pulling out a huge index of codes and plugging them, flitting through this icon-based menu is very easy.

Managing configuration with the app is easy, too. Again, there’s oodles of depth. Something else I notice as I start scratching away at the surface of Almond is SCSI-inspired stuff like professional monitoring (it’s disabled in my case) and IOT Security – again, you need to activate a subscription to get access to IOT Security. It’s atop these strong functionalities that installers and monitoring stations are going to plant their flags.

This system has so much lateral capacity and so much depth it would be a rare end user who could shake out all the possibilities. Meanwhile, professionals who really engage with this system

are going to find endless sales hooks.

When it comes to mobile device operation, you drive the app across the bottom tool bar – Dashboard, Devices, Automation and Settings – tap More and the list expands vertically to include Subscriptions, Help, IP Cameras, Preferences (which category you nominate as home), and other stuff. Dipping in I find that Rules are neat – you can get the system to arm and disarm at set times of day, or undertake actions when your smart device approaches, and given this is a networking animal, you can also have it report when particular devices try to access the Wi-Fi network, allowing you to keep an eye on the kids.

The Settings Menu is comprehensive and lets you manage networks, wireless settings, config professional home security monitoring, twiddle with advanced router features, connect to the Almond locally, report problems and do updates, reboot and reset all clients.

Devices, meanwhile, gives you a list of all the devices engaged with Almond – security sensors and smart switches at the top and network devices like mobile devices and workstations listed underneath. While scrolling through the list I notice the reed switch dishing up real time temperatures from inside the office. And that’s how it is with Almond. What can it do? Well, whatever you want it to do and presents to the world through an app that offers an attractive and intensely functional user experience.

Challenges of the installation included trying to get the smart light bulb out of its tight foam packaging. This occupied me for 30 seconds and such is the hunger for plug and play in the modern era, I was mildly surprised the bulb didn’t climb out of the box by itself, salute, then rush for the nearest light fitting. Another challenge was trying to fit the stand on the back of the hub without looking at the instructions. I failed to pass this test.

Finally, the tamper switch on the reed required a magnifying glass to find but that’s been addressed by the easy to use new wall mount.

When it came to required tools, I came packing a PC tool kit, complete with 2 set of spudgers, one metal, one plastic, as well as a set of 5-dollar screwdrivers from the 2-dollar shop on the corner of Foveaux and Mary. In the event, I was packing heavy – all that was required to set up the system was a medium Stanley flat head and my thumbnail.

In short, Almond is a sweet system. Hours after leaving the office, I am still mucking around with the app and checking out ZigBee sensors online.

There’s so much fine motor control with this system you simply can’t help wanting to explore it.

And that’s the beauty of Almond 3S from the point of view of installers and monitoring people. This system has such depth few end users will be able to get the most out of it, yet they are really, really going to want you to try. n

26 se&n

SEM918_20almond.indd 26

28/8/18 5:15 pm

MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF BRANDS MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF BRANDS MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF BRANDS

AN ARA PRODUCTS COMPANY AN ARA PRODUCTS COMPANY AN ARA PRODUCTS COMPANY

SEM0918_27.indd 1

1300 111 010 1300 111 1300 111 010 010 www.iscs.com.au www.iscs.com.au www.iscs.com.au

28/8/18 9:44 am

● News report

Hills

HILLS GROWS SECURITY HILLS Limited, Australia’s largest electronic security distributor, announced its FY18 full year results late August, which showed the company has returned to profitability, delivering a $A8.3m improvement on the previous year’s results, with a 2 per cent increase in the security business.

ARGINS for Hills Ltd have remained steady, despite a revenue decline of $A26.3m for the full year following the decision to exit NBN satellite installations, as well as lower antenna sales in the competitive Pay TV market in Australia and New Zealand – most this impact was felt early FY18.

Meanwhile, the FY18 net profit after tax (NPAT) result of $0.4m was an $8.3m improvement on the FY17 NPAT result and represents a significant turnaround for the business.

“In recent years, Hills Ltd has instigated a strategy to redefine and restructure the business and I am pleased for our shareholders, customers, vendors and employees that Hills has returned to profitability,” Hills’ chief executive officer and managing director, David Lenz, said.

“In FY18 Hills set about delivering on key initiatives outlined in detail at our AGM, and it was pleasing to see the business deliver against these objectives during the year, particularly our e-Commerce platform and the establishment of a National Distribution Centre and Trade Centre at Seven Hills in New South Wales.

“Hills will continue to deliver the best possible customer experience and we remain focussed on implementing key business improvements in FY19,” Lenz said.

During the year, Hills strengthened relationships with existing vendors and customers, including: • An extension of the agreement with Ericsson for the installation of fixed wireless services associated with the NBN rollout until 2020; and • An extension of the agreement with Genetec, a leading provider of security and public safety solutions, for exclusive distribution across Australia and New Zealand until 2020.

Hills Security, Surveillance and IT business, had a solid result, delivering 2 per cent sales growth over FY17. The business also saw strong growth in its Enterprise and IT business areas, which is expected to continue into FY19 based on a strong pipeline.

M

David Lenz

Hills SMB business continued to be impacted by its product portfolio mix, which will see improvement in FY19 following the signing of Dahua Technologies and the pending release of new products from United Technologies Corporation.

“I am encouraged by our overall progress and with improvements in our vendor portfolio and the continued sales momentum of exclusive vendors Genetec and UTC, we expect to continue to grow in FY19,” Lenz said.

Highlights from FY18 include supply of • AXIS IP Cameras and Ipsotek analytics through SAAB for Queensland Corrections • Genetec unified IP security solution together with Axis IP Cameras to Siemens for Brisbane Airport; together with Siemens, Genetec unified IP security solutions and AXIS IP Cameras to Woodside Petroleum HQ Perth; and Vivotek IP cameras at Sydney Trains together with Indra Australia.

“While we still have work to do, we are confident that the strategies undertaken in FY18 and the continued focus on reducing operating expenses, strengthening customer and vendor partnerships and the rollout of our digital transformation project will deliver an increased profit in FY19,” Lenz said.n

FINANCIAL SUMMARY: l

NPAT of $0.4m represents a significant turnaround from prior year loss of $7.9m

l

Expenses down $21.2m or 20.1% from $105.6m prior year to $84.4m

l

Net debt down $3.1m from 30 June 2017 to $16.9m

l

Significant turnaround in operating cash flow generating $12.0m up by 12.8m from FY17

l

Inventory reduced from $46.5m to $44m

l

Stronger overall company gross margins at 31.9 per cent, up 2.4 per cent on prior year.

28 se&n

SEM0918_28hills.indd 28

28/8/18 5:14 pm

Rethink Video Security Rethink Total Cost of Ownership au.boschsecurity.com A Bosch video systems solution can provide you with: ▶ Licence-Free Analytics ▶ Quality Imaging in any conditions ▶ Up to 80% Bitrate Saving ▶ Leading Data Security ▶ VMS Resilence & Efficiency ▶ Remote Configuration & Monitoring ▶ Seamless Integration with Genetec, Milestone, ISS and Qognify So think quality, think long-term. Contact the Bosch Project team for your custom-built solution.

Ph: 13000 BOSCH or email stsales@au.bosch.com

Rethink Video Security_SEN Ad_March 2018.indd 1 SEM0918_29.indd 1

24/08/2018 11:44:57 AMam 28/8/18 9:45

â—? Special feature

Security 2018 Part 2

PRODUCTS OF SECURITY 2018 PART 2 Last month we got started on a runthrough of the best products at Security 2018 Exhibition. In Part 2, we delve deeper and try to come to some conclusions about exactly where electronic security industry is headed.

AST month in Part 1 of our Special Report on new products at Security 2018 Exhibition, we drew a number of conclusions about the products we saw at Security 2018 Exhibition – the key observation being that the most noticeable enhancements this year were in user and installer interfaces. We also noted the complete dominance of networkbased systems, as well as the operational focus of many of the solutions on display.

More products we liked included the Rhino alarm system and peripherals, including the Falcon wireless communicator. South Africa makes nice security gear and Rhino is no exception. The board work looked solid and the app was simple and effective. On the CSM stand the Aarc Evac Wireless Emergency Alert system caught my eye. Thanks to wireless comms it can be deployed quickly and easily, and it can be

L

30 se&n

SEM918_30show part2.indd 30

28/8/18 5:13 pm

BY J O H N A D A M S

VANDERBILT WAS PACKING PLENTY, WITH ALL THE COMPANY’S TRIED AND TESTED CONTROLLERS WRANGLED BY SOME VERY SLICK-LOOKING APPS AND BROWSERBASED MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS.

moved, too. Aarc is one of those operational rubbermeets-road solutions and is locally designed and manufactured. On the Genetec stand, I saw IX access control hardware, as well as Security Center 5.7, Streamvault, Traffic Sense and Airport Sense. I also had a chance to speak with Genetec about the company’s roadmap and there’s plenty going on.

Hills showed DSC iotega, as well as the new Reliance panel, ZeroWire, Kidde smoke sensors, a tiny intercom door station and TruVision cameras, along with a whole lot more. Nearby, I took a look at the Suprema CS-40 CoreStation, which offers biometric access control for 132 doors and 500 users. Vanderbilt was showing plenty, with all the company’s tried and tested controllers wrangled by some very slick-looking apps and browserbased management solutions.

Across the way was Kaba Dorma – again, very tidy hardware. But under the surface of door furniture

like the Pro-Lever and Air-Lever locking systems was Wi-Fi-based TouchGo – a technology that automatically recognizes carried transponders, so doors can be entered normally using the door handle, while unauthorised attempts to open the door are ignored. Hikvision was showing off its thermal cameras in every conceivable form factor, as well as 360-degree cameras, 360-degree cameras with PTZ, wide angle multi-head, 2MP day/night pendant PTZ, weather and vandalproof mobile cameras, body worn cameras and robust mobile NVRs. The Idemia-branded MorphoWave Compact on the SensaTek stand uses MorphoWave contactless 3D fingerprint technology in a stylish and compact wall-mounted device. The unit has state-of-the-art optics performance giving high read speed and accuracy, as well as IP65 water and dustproof rating. CSD & Inner Range showed plenty – I especially liked the Nemtek powered

se&n 31

SEM918_30show part2.indd 31

28/8/18 5:13 pm

● Special feature

Security 2018 Part 2 MOST INTERESTINGLY, SECUREIOT ISOLATES, CONTAINS, AND PROTECTS ALL OT REGARDLESS OF MANUFACTURER, AGE, OPERATING SYSTEM, OR PROTOCOL. sensor behaviour analysis camera and delighted when it put my age at 36 - I knew there was a positive side to analytics. Dahua has also shoehorned some solid camera engines into more compact PTZ form factors with very competitive prices. Dahua showed ANPR and smart retail analytics, which highlighted things like hot purchase items, commodity relationships, target preferences and people counts. This stuff is gold for retailers who have relied on intuition in the past. Dahua also showed biometric access control readers, as well as a 4-reader access control solution.

On the SensaTek stand I saw the Vivotek MS8391-EV multi-sensor panoramic IP camera, with 12MP of resolution and a 180-degree angle of view.SensaTek also showed what looked like a thermal bullet camera, as well as a Radwin mesh

fence integration, as well as Infiniti Gatekeeper.

The UNV/CRK stand showed LPR, the beaut looking ZenMuse drone with FLIR thermal imaging technology aboard, UNV Smart LPR, Starlight in a dome form factor with a motorised lens, Wi-Fi cameras for residential and SMB applications, 4 and 12MP fisheye panoramic cameras, UNV’s powerful Unicorn NVR. Onclave’s SecureIOT was another product that stood out. According to Sean Borg, Secure IoT offers an extremely high level of protection but requires no hardware, installation or training.

Fundamentally, Secure IoT Managed Services will make Internet-facing security solutions invisible to hackers, while they remain operational and accessible to authorized users. Most interestingly, SecureIOT isolates, contains, and protects all OT regardless of manufacturer, age, operating system, or protocol. This is a solution we will be looking at in more detail down the track.

Mobotix was showing MxMove – it’s first ONVIF compliant camera. It’s an important move from Mobotix. Along with partnering with companies like Genetec, Mobotix is breaking out of its proprietary mold, while retaining the operational strength that has made it such a winner.

Dahua brought everything and the kitchen sink to the show – again this year there was an operational focus. There was so much it’s impossible to cover it here. I saw thermal PTZ cameras, I was fascinated by the 8MP WDR multi32 se&n

A good clean live stream

SEM918_30show part2.indd 32

28/8/18 5:13 pm

SensaTek image ad A4 9-2018.qxp_Layout 1 24/08/2018 4:32 PM Seite 1

Complexity simplified ...

SensaTek continues to innovate with our new partner IPConfigure. Their award winning Video Management System - Orchid, offers a simplified and reliable VMS for small and large installations alike. Orchid boasts a simple, sophisticated interface that offers a rich and engaging user experience. To test drive their offering contact us to arrange a trial.

We focus on your priorities.

1300 560 026 | sales@sensatek.com.au | www.sensatek.com.au

SEM0918_33.indd 1

28/8/18 9:45 am

● Special report

Security 2018

OVERALL BEST IN SHOW – I TEND TO LEAN IN THE DIRECTION OF FLIR SAROS, AS WELL AS SCSI’S ALMOND SOLUTION...

CCTV solution. Nearby Geutebruck showed of its latest G-SIM, as well as a fan-less mobile NVR called the G-Scope 500+, which is lightweight, compact, powerful, and has an enormous memory of up to 4 Tbytes. It has a mobile video management solution is suitable for monitoring cash transports, police vehicles, trains and buses and it can support up to a maximum of 32 video sources.

Finally, Ipsotek’s VISense Augmented Reality Security Glasses were neat. No doubt, they would become intuitive for security and law enforcement officers who wore them for a while. The VISense glasses are designed to enhance situational awareness by capturing

video through the on-board camera, detecting and storing faces, and comparing them to faces enrolled in the on-device database, according to Ipsotek, with detection results overlayed on suspect’s faces in the field of view.

CONCLUSIONS Trying to select a best in show from the product lineup I saw at Security 2018 was tough. Overall best in show – I tend to lean in the direction of FLIR Saros, as well as SCSI’s Almond solution, which is reviewed in this issue of SEN. The latter wasn’t in the hall but you could see it nearby.

Dahua Retail Analytics. Aarc EVAC, Dorma Kaba TouchGo Wi-Fi enabled C Lever locks. Inner Range’s Vector Mapping was a nice development.

Good moves included Genetec’s pre-release of its IX access control hardware. Genetec’s pointy software solutions, such as AirportSense, are always impressive. I liked DJI’s ZenMuse XT drone with FLIR thermal imaging. Using one of these units to scout alarm events on very long perimeters would be a powerful addition for a compact live security team. Clavister e10 and Secure IOT caught my eye as well. n

34 se&n

SEM918_30show part2.indd 34

28/8/18 5:14 pm

SEM0918_35.indd 1 Dallmeier_S-Panomera_A4_Montage_UK_Vektor.indd 1

28/8/1812:13:18 9:45 am 19.02.2015

â—? Case study

Trailer-Cam Scott Myles drives a well-designed workstation.

UPWARDLY MOBILE Mobile Camera Security and Security & Technology Services in Darwin have worked closely to win a contract for the manufacture and supply of a fleet of 10 customised Trailer-Cam Mobile CCTV Trailers for the Northern Territory Police.

ORTHERN Territory Police has awarded a contract for the manufacture and supply of 10 Trailer-Cam units to MCS and STS and it will use the units to monitor crime hotspots around Darwin. The latest contract win comes after MCS and STS successfully delivered 5 Trailer-Cams to Northern Territory Police, which were used successfully in a range of applications around the city over an 18-month period.

According to police, in 2017 there were 3500 crimes caught on camera, 576 of which led to prosecutions, which was double the figure of the year before, thanks to greater use of CCTV. Police see this as evidence that CCTV, including its new mobile Trailer-Cam units, represents a powerful tool for investigations. The Trailer-Cam units, which deliver image streams via a mesh network,

N

36 se&n

SEM0918_36mobile.indd 36

28/8/18 5:17 pm

BY J O H N A D A M S

TRAILER-CAM ALLOWS OPERATORS TO LOCATE A UNIT QUICKLY AND EASILY, THEN ACCESS THE CAMERAS REMOTELY FROM ANY AUTHORISED DEVICE, WITH ALERT EMAILS AND SMS SENT DIRECT TO ANYONE. are designed to work in concert with Darwin’s existing 190-camera public surveillance solution.

Mark Swan of MCS and Keith Bear of STS, designed the customised Trailer-Cams in collaboration with NT Police Technical and CCTV Units to suit the requirements of the NT Police. The new units needed to integrate with the existing 10 Trailer-Cams MCS built for NT Police previously.

MCS designed the trailers and their components, while STS designed the mesh network.

“MCS is currently building 6 specialised Mobile CCTV Trailers worth over $500,000,” Swan said.

“Some trailers will have the latest thermal PTZ cameras fitted, along with some special routers, antennas, and software. MCS also has 3 new Trailer-Cam models to be released soon and these new designs will be state-of-art in features and equipment.”

Crimes captured by CCTV around Darwin included anti-social behaviour, hooning, and the activity of graffiti artists.

“Each unit costs around $120,000 to build, an investment Territorians will appreciate, given it provides a tool that no other jurisdiction in this country has,” said NT Police Minister, Peter Chandler. “If we have a suburb where there is some youth offending, we’ll park them up there and let people know we’re there, monitoring their behaviour.”

While some of the mobile CCTV trailers have been funded by the NT Government, others are being funded by the Attorney Generals Department’s National Crime Prevention Fund, which is funded under section 298 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The NCPF is a purse put aside to address gang violence and street crime. The NCPF’s security-related infrastructure grants also supported environmental enhancements using CPTED principles at trouble spots, including fixed and mobile CCTV systems, lighting and other initiatives.

When setting up the NCPF, AG’s Department insisted that projects addressed the priorities of the programme, had clear benefits for the broad

community, had well-defined and achievable objectives, and established performance measures to assess the impact of the project. They also need to have support of multiple stakeholders – including local police.

Trailer-Cam includes 1 fixed bullet camera with motorized zoom and focus, as well as a PTZ camera with 36x optical zoom, IR lighting, video storage on board, remote access via wireless mesh and 3G, a PA system delivering automated messages, solar arrays and battery storage.

THE TRAILER-CAM SOLUTION Trailer-Cam allows operators to locate a remote unit quickly and easily, then access the cameras remotely from any authorised device, with alert emails and SMS sent direct to authorised users.

Motion-activated infrared cameras look after the night time activities from up to 150 meters away, while a Geo-fence allows for activation of alarms and sirens for per-determined set points.

From an operational perspective, Trailer-Cam delivers elevated 360-degree views, has the ability to record high quality video in dark environments, can sense movement and motion, even in areas out of camera’s field of view. The unit records all footage

se&n 37

SEM0918_36mobile.indd 37

28/8/18 5:17 pm

● Case study

Trailer-Cam

in HD with instant alarm notification and post-event evidence.

Trailer-Cam can complement and replace traditional static security guards, mobile patrols and fixed CCTV cameras in security, constructions, event and traffic management applications. TrailerCam handles recording and transmitting live video footage across NextG mobile networks long range Wi-Fi, and if in remote areas, can deploy satellite options.

Each trailer has its own internal on-board computer/NVR which can be remotely and securely accessed from any computer or mobile compatible device, with an internet connection from around the world. The NVRs also allow for a Wi-Fi log-in application within proximity ranges. Live footage can be viewed and monitored with event recording alarm warnings, sirens, lights, etc while also allowing simultaneous secure viewing by third parties.

“One of the significant differences between existing units currently on the market and the Trailer-Cam is true autonomous use of 100 per cent solar powered technology,” says Swan. “The solar powered CCTV camera trailers are selfsufficient in operation for months on end, without human interaction or mains power connection.

THE SOLAR POWERED CCTV CAMERA TRAILERS ARE SELFSUFFICIENT IN OPERATION FOR MONTHS ON END.

Additionally, all our Solar trailers can be fitted with PA speaker systems that enable remote or motion detected verbal warnings to intruders.

“Mobile Camera Security is a pioneer in designing and manufacturing solar powered CCTV security trailers in Australia,” says Swan. All R&D is done inhouse and we don’t employ outside contractors to fit out or test any equipment. This is an advantage to us and our clients, as we will only use the best available products to complete our world class solutions. We wire and install all equipment ourselves and know every wire, lead, and fuse in the system. DC or AC, and each trailer is Australian Standards-compliant and tag-tested by independent electricians.”

According to Swan, the NT Police contract is believed to be Australia’s largest single order ever for mobile CCTV trailers.

“MCS is proud and honoured to be chosen for this project,” Swan said. n

FEATURES OF TRAILER CAM INCLUDE: l

HD megapixel live streaming

l

LED Floodlights

l

Multi-User login

l

Digital CCTV

l

IR cameras

Event Monitoring

l

l

l

Thermal PTZ

Email & SMS Notification

l

Speed radar detection

l

Long range Wi-Fi

l

Remote NextG Login

l

Solar powered

l

Australian designed and manufactured.

l

PIR motion detection

l

Digital network video recording

l

Loud Speakers

38 se&n

SEM0918_36mobile.indd 38

28/8/18 5:18 pm

ULISSE RANGE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE PTZ CAMERAS, R E A D Y T O U S E F O R T H E M O S T D E M A N D I N G O U T D O O R A P P L I C AT I O N S

VIDEO SECURITY P R O D U C T S www.videotec.com hksales@videotec.com Made in Italy since 1986

SEM0918_39.indd 1

28/8/18 9:45 am

● Product review

Pelco

SARIX IN YOUR CORNER Pelco by Schneider Electric IBD Sarix High Security Corner Mount Camera is a rugged 3MP camera with integrated IR that’s designed to deliver highly detailed coverage of small and medium spaces where there’s the possibility of self-harm, and vandalism.

ELCO Sarix IBD329-1 corner camera is a striking piece of kit from the moment you wiggle it out of the box, thanks to an angular lozenge shape designed to make it virtually impossible to get leverage on. As well as being IP66 rated against water and dust, the Sarix corner camera is rated IK10+ against vandalism, giving impact resistance of up to 50 joules. It has die-cast aluminium construction, NEMA 4X rating and weighs 1.15kg. The hand-feel is good and the build quality leaves nothing to be desired.

Perhaps the only thing I’d like more of in the physical spec is space to run the Cat cable – you simply must shuck the housing and even then the acute angle at which the cable approaches the port means it’s a squeeze.

P

40 se&n

SEM0918_40sarix.indd 40

28/8/18 5:45 pm

BY J O H N A D A M S

Let’s run through the features first. The PoE camera delivers 3MP at up to 30ips, has an operating temperature of 55C, supports a 128GB micro SD card for onboard storage. Low light performance is enhanced by a 940nm IR no-glow IR array, there’s ONVIF Profile S, Profile G, and Profile Q conformance, a 3-year warranty and support, digital audio, motion and sabotage detection protection and Pelco Smart Compression technology.

Designed for use in protected, high-risk areas like prisons, the camera features an antiligature, no-grip design without anchor points, and fits flush to corners protecting against attempts to detach or disable it. Despite sitting flush to a single corner, the camera’s 45-degree angled position allows it to capture video for an entire 10 by 10 m room, including directly below the camera.

Complete coverage of this 7.5 x 4.5 metre scene.

And some digital zoom...

Here’s the purple fringing.

IR coverage is good.

se&n 41

SEM0918_40sarix.indd 41

28/8/18 5:45 pm

● Product review

Pelco

Camera exposing for internal light. Colour rendition is strong.

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF PERFORMANCE ARE STRONG COLOUR RENDITION, HIGH RESOLUTION, GOOD CONTRAST, LOW NOISE, LOW LATENCY AND LOW BLUR.

It’s a tall view.

The camera has a progressive scan 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor delivering 2048 x 1536 pixels. The F2.1 aperture fixed 1.8mm lens gives a horizonal angle of view of 120 degrees and a vertical angle of view of 90 degrees, with an electronic shutter.

WDR is 75dB, white balance between 200010,000K, 3D digital noise reduction is (ON/OFF selectable), there’s signal-to-noise ratio of ±50dB, a mechanical IR cut filter that’s auto-selectable and an IR range of 10 metres.

There are 2 simultaneous streams, plus a service stream; with the secondary stream being variable based on the setup of the primary stream.

There is text overlay of camera name, time, date, and customizable text. Video encoding options include H.264 high, main, and baseline profiles; as well as MJPEG. There’s also control constant bit rate (CBR), constrained variable bit rate (CVBR) with configurable maximum value.

Other features include corridor mode, 8 configurable blanking windows, Pelco Smart Compression Technology, which lowers bandwidth and storage by up to 70 per cent. Audio streaming is bi-directional with input line in/line out terminal block and there’s G.711 encoding.

There’s also an alarm input and an alarm output.

TEST DRIVING SARIX CORNERMOUNT My first impressions of performance are strong colour rendition, high resolution, good contrast, low noise, low latency and low blur. Because the camera is designed for installation in cells and other relatively compact access-controlled spaces of up to 10m x 10m, I’m keeping Sarix Corner Mount inside for this test. Something I notice immediately is relatively strong barrel distortion – you expect this with a focal length of 1.8mm on a 1/2.8-inch

42 se&n

SEM0918_40sarix.indd 42

28/8/18 5:45 pm

hanwha-security.com

Seeing beyond sight

Wisenet thermal cameras Wisenet thermal cameras provide high contrast images based on temperature differences between the object and background to make the unseen details visible without additional lighting. In addition, they have seven different types of color palette for users to select the best image in various situations.

TNO-4050T, 4051T, 4040T, 4041T, 4030T

White hot

Black hot

Rainbow

Custom

Sepia

Red

Iron

www.eos.com.au

SEM0918_43.indd 1

28/8/18 9:45 am

● Product review

Pelco

INSTALLED AT 45 DEGREES IT DOESN’T BOTHER WITH CEILINGS BUT LOOKS DOWN AT ITS FEET AND COVERS EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THAT’S THE SORT OF COVERAGE YOU NEED FROM A CORNER-MOUNT CAMERA LIKE THIS ONE. sensor. But in corner-mount installations, this distortion is not going to be a huge deal. There’s a considerable focal sweet spot towards the centre of the frame, which is where most the action will be taking place.

Something else I notice is that the fixed 1.8mm lens gives excellent coverage of my internal scenes. I’m using the Magic Arm to hold this camera in an upright position tipped forward to emulate the 45-degree angle the camera takes up when flush-mounted in a corner. I can see the strength of the angle of view as soon as I look at the monitor. The horizontal angle of view is good, the vertical angle is better still. Usually you would try to avoid such a high view, given it spreads pixels to areas you don’t to need to see in typical scenes.

But Sarix Corner-Mount is different – installed at 45 degrees it doesn’t bother with ceilings but looks down at its feet and covers everything in

IR array gives good spread.

between. That’s the sort of coverage you need from a corner-mount camera like this one. In fact, the vertical angle of view is so long I find it hard to hit the perfect spot – I make half a dozen trips down to the garage trying to eliminate the ceiling from my scene. Meanwhile, perspective distortion is making the scene appear a little deeper than it is – 7.5m x 4.5m – and there’s some moderate moustache distortion at the top edges, which is where you want it to be. Another characteristic of the lens is chromatic aberrations along high contrast points that’s evidenced as purple fringing.

It’s an interesting lens that’s well matched to the 2048 x 1536-pixel resolution – there are options to select a pared back video stream but if you need detail throughout, I think reducing resolution would be a mistake – 3MP is as low as you’d want in a scene of 120 x 90 degrees, even if it is only 10m deep. A fixed lens like this has a compact hyperfocal distance – it seems to me it’s less than 20cm, but it might be smaller still – my mounting points are making it hard to get anything into the very near distance of the lens. I judge that I have detail more-or-less in focus from a few tens of centimetres to the garage door at 7.5m – the scene softens as you go deeper in but within my scene the camera offers decent digital zoom as well – I’m

44 se&n

SEM0918_40sarix.indd 44

28/8/18 5:46 pm

just using the mouse wheel and I can roll in 3-4 clicks and get the number of plate of the car in the garage with no drama.

I’m doing my tweaking of settings via the camera browser - Sarix Corner-Mount is well-optioned when it comes to noise reduction, managing backlight and dialling in colour temperature.

There are also plenty of options when it comes to setting up video streams – you can go as low at 1280 x 720 pixels for the primary stream, but as mentioned this is probably going to over-spread pixels. The browser also gives good access to network settings, including SSL, FTP, Firewall and VMS connectivity.

An interesting area is the events drop-down, which includes tabs for alarm source, motion detection, sabotage detection, audio detection, FTP upload handler, relay open/close handler, SD record handler, SMTP handler and sound notification handler. Motion detection allows you to dial in object size, to set detection zones and to tweak sensitivity.

Performance in low light levels is good, too. As light levels fall, noise increases but remains well controlled. In fact, I was waiting for the camera to go over with some impatience and it held on in colour and held on and held on, always retaining useful detail throughout the scene. The camera goes over into night mode cleanly without too much fuss and the IR array gives very good coverage – often IR will be focused in the centre of a scene but a camera like this needs wider coverage and the layout of the array with its 24 LEDs gives great balance across the scene.

With IR activated, images display good levels of contrast, which is what you want from monochrome. As usual, monochrome IR performance also gives much sharper edges than you see in colour. All camera engines battle to deliver clear tonal variations in colour as light fails. Sometimes it’s worth letting them hang on for dear life but often it’s better to encourage them to come across early using a timer or selecting a lighter transition.

Sarix IBD Corner-Mount is a specialised camera – it’s designed to resist physical attack, as well as incidental damage from dust or water.

Monitoring of cells is the core function, but this camera would support broader applications – any compact harsh environment where you need to record everything all the time. In delivering this performance, what Sarix Corner-Mount clearly shows is how important viewing angle and height can be in certain applications, especially when combined with appropriate resolution, as it is here. For applications that demand complete coverage of an area – the specification argues 10m x 10m, but I think 8m x 8m is probably best – Pelco has really hit the mark. n

Sarix corner mount held by the Magic Arm.

FEATURES OF THE SARIX IBD CORNERMOUNT CAMERA INCLUDE: l

Horizonal angle of view, 120 degrees

l

Vertical angle of view, 90 degrees

l

3MP resolution at 30ips

l

Operating temperature up to 55C

l

Up to 128 GB edge storage with micro SD card

l

Motion detection and camera sabotage detection

l

Pelco Smart Compression Technology

l

V andal resistant to IK10+ 50 joule, IP66 ingress protection

l

C ompatible with Pelco and third-party video systems

l

O NVIF Profile S, Profile G, and Profile Q conformant

l

D igital audio

l

9 40 nm IR (no glow).

se&n 45

SEM0918_40sarix.indd 45

28/8/18 5:46 pm

● Regulars

The Interview

Opportunity Knocks Security Electronics’ editor John Adams speaks with Mark Cunnington, senior vice president of security, and Tim Martin, senior vice president APAC, about Anixter’s acquisition of Inner Range and CSD.

Q: Do you think the Australian security industry is across the size of Anixter ($A7.5 billion in sales annually) and/or appreciates the historical focus Anixter has on networking and security?

TM: Anixter is a market leader in the data and network infrastructure market in Australia but is somewhat less known in the security industry.

Prior to this acquisition, Anixter had a healthy security business here, but the presence was not as large as it is in other regions of the world. Anixter is the largest security distributor in the world, and this acquisition means Anixter and CSD together are now the largest security distributor in Australia by a substantial margin.

Q: Does having networking and security as one of its 3 core segments make Anixter a natural fit for Inner Range and CSD, which between them are entirely focused on developing and distributing cutting-edge networked and integrated security solutions?

TM: Anixter’s vision is to provide customers with a full range of infrastructure and end devices for the next generation of intelligent buildings.

Inner Range’s Intelligent Management Software and integrated access and security systems, when coupled with CSD’s extensive distribution portfolio of surveillance and security equipment, fit perfectly within Anixter’s vision.

Q: Could you describe the structure the Inner Range and CSD business will now have – what will the business be called, will overall operations remain

the same, with the same/similar local management team? Who will the team be?

MC: CSD and Inner Range still exist as independent businesses and will trade under their existing names, but the shareholding has changed. CSD is a trade counter-based business which works on a range of projects, from small 4-camera systems to large hospitals and universities. It is a high-touch business with respect to branch and technical support, and we pride ourselves on our ability to service everyone, from sole traders to multinationals.

Anixter’s existing business is more project-focused and excels in this segment of the market. Anixter purchased CSD precisely because it was a trade-counter-based, high-touch distributor, so the intention is to grow and develop this business model, not radically reinvent it. Other than the recent retirement of Vin Lopes, there have not been any management team changes at either Inner Range or CSD, and everyone is extremely excited by the opportunities presented by this acquisition. Meanwhile, Inner Range will operate as a distinct entity to the security segment of Anixter, with separate management and structure.

In some respects, Inner Range will be a supplier to the Anixter distribution business.

Q: When it comes to CSD management, will Anixter be influencing the business at the macro level, or will the local management team be tasked with continuing to steer the business in the way they have done?

MC: The existing, extremely competent, CSD management team will run with a lot of local autonomy but will now be able to leverage Anixter’s global experience and capabilities. Anixter’s local management in Asia Pacific is a very experienced, capable team and we are already sharing ideas and working through ways to improve our product range and service offering to customers. Anixter also has a range of capabilities in logistics, global account management and supply chain services that will improve CSD’s offering to its customers.

Q: In which markets will Anixter be distributing Inner Range solutions?

MC: Inner Range will operate as quite a distinct entity to the security distribution segment of Anixter. Anixter has long-standing relationships with manufacturers around the world and the Inner Range acquisition is not designed to change those mutually beneficial relationships. There will be some global markets in which Anixter has gaps in their portfolio that Inner Range products can fill. However, market expansion of Inner Range products will be a very careful, methodical process.

Q: Inner Range is an engineering engine with an integral R&D platform. Will that commitment to R&D remain part of the business?

MC: Anixter will continue to invest in Inner Range technology. The business is still growing at a rapid rate in Australia and continued investment is one of the main drivers of this growth. The commitment to R&D will grow and there will be tailored developments for other markets. Inner Range already has a presence in the UK and Europe and we currently have R&D projects underway to optimise our products for these markets. Over the next 12 months we have major releases slated for our core platforms, Integriti, Inception and Multipath.

TM: Many Australian customers would not appreciate Anixter’s technical capabilities and history. The ubiquitous Cat 5 cable that runs throughout every building in the world is part of the ANSI cable category system, which came out of Anixter’s own propriety Levels System in 1989. Essentially, Anixter invented the cable category system that defines structured cabling around the world.

46 se&n

SEM0918_46interview.indd 46

28/8/18 5:19 pm

MARK CUNNINGTON AND TIM MARTIN WITH JOHN ADAMS

THIS COMING TOGETHER ASSURES THE FUTURE OF THESE TWO ORGANISATIONS AND PROVIDES A RANGE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF THAT PRIVATE OWNERSHIP COULD NEVER OFFER Mark Cunnington

se&n 47

SEM0918_46interview.indd 47

28/8/18 5:19 pm

● Regulars

The Interview alternative business model, in which multiple access control ‘manufacturers’ have for decades supplied a relatively fixed range of Mercury control panels and I/O boards. Will we see Inner Range engineers engaged with the market in this same customised way and might this capability expand to other markets into which Anixter will carry Inner Range products?

THE ACQUISITION HAS ALREADY GIVEN CSD CUSTOMERS DIRECT ACCESS TO CAMERAS, NETWORKING EQUIPMENT AND A FULL RANGE OF SERVERS AND STORAGE DEVICES. Tim Martin

In addition, Anixter has staff on many influential standards committees, such as ONVIF, which defines the world’s CCTV standards. Anixter’s investment in Inner Range R&D is really a continuation of its history of deep technical capabilities and innovation.

Q: One of the strengths of the CSD and Inner Range business model was that it allowed input to flow directly from customers, to distributor, to engineers, giving granular sensitivity to needs of the market and to the market’s reactions to the performance of its technology.

Will this free flow of information continue?

MC: Inner Range always had great market feedback from a trusted group of installers. This is an area that I believe we will expand in the next 12 months. We are currently planning some initiatives that will broaden the group of installers and end users that give us market feedback.

Q: Another strength of Inner Range and CSD has been the ability of the engineering team to undertake customised applications in real time, working hand in hand with integrators and customers. It’s hard to express the power of this when compared to the

MC: Inner Range leads the industry with its ability to develop third-party integrations. The combination of a technology platform that was designed from the ground up as an open platform for integration and an experienced R&D team has allowed Inner Range to offer customized, cost-efficient solutions to installers and end users. Anixter appreciates that this capability is one of the keys to the success of Inner Range, and this type of development and market responsiveness will continue.

Q: If Anixter will be distributing Inner Range products in certain markets, will there be any cross-over of product distribution when it comes to CSD? For instance, might CSD carry a greater weight of cable and/or networking solutions in the future?

TM: This is one of the obvious areas of synergy that the acquisitions bring.

Anixter has access to thousands of brands across the globe and we will be introducing new solutions in security, data and networking over the coming months. The acquisition has already given CSD customers direct access to cameras, networking equipment and a full range of servers and storage devices. This is a huge opportunity and we will ensure we train our staff and technical resources before bringing in new products.

Q: Inner Range and CSD were icons of the Australian electronic security industry and founders of the businesses, including Doug Fraser, Vin Lopes and yourself, must have strong feelings about this acquisition – it’s the end of an era, as well as the beginning of something new. How are Vin and Doug feeling and how are you feeling yourself?

MC: Doug Fraser left the business 4 years ago and is retired and enjoying life. We had put a succession plan in place prior to this acquisition to prepare for Vin easing out of his involvement with Inner Range. Over the last 18 months, Peter

Krincevski has been CEO of Inner Range and actively managing the business. Vin has mixed feelings about his departure, he understands Anixter is a great home for the companies but still has a lot of energy and passion and is embarking on a range of charitable ventures.

Personally, I am 100 per cent sure this acquisition is the best thing for our customers and staff. Anixter has a very agile culture for a global company and I am really enjoying working with the new team and learning an enormous amount from exposure to Anixter’s systems and culture. The acquisition also gives our staff a range of new career opportunities.

Helping to facilitate these opportunities is extremely gratifying.

Q: What about the combined feelings of the team – so many Inner Range and CSD people put their hearts into the business for so long – what’s the message to them from management?

MC: CSD and Inner Range staff give 150 per cent of themselves to the company.

Acquisitions are always challenging for employees, but in this case, it is really the coming together of 2 highperforming complementary businesses rather than an acquisition. This coming together assures the future of these two organisations and provides a range of career opportunities for staff that private ownership could never offer.

Q: What would you like to say to customers–end users and integrators– about the future of the company and its solutions?

MC: With the backing of a Fortune 500 company, the future of both companies is extremely exciting. To CSD customers, we can assure them they will see investment in our branch network, service levels and an exciting range of new products that will become available within the next few months. For Inner Range installers and end users, there will be a continued emphasis on innovation and R&D for the Australian market.

The previous owners of CSD and Inner Range had approaches from potential acquirers through the years and we were extremely careful when considering acquisition offers to ensure we would find a caring home where the businesses would be nurtured and grown. With Anixter, I firmly believe we have found the right partner and our staff and customers can be assured of a very positive future. n

48 se&n

SEM0918_46interview.indd 48

28/8/18 5:19 pm

SEM0918_49.indd 1

28/8/18 9:45 am

Proudly brought to you by

● Regulars

Monitoring

Your Monitoring Specialists

1300 130 515

www.bensecurity.com.au

The Internet of MQTT There’s been plenty of fretting in the CCTV industry about the cyber security levels of CCTV cameras. Do the same issues apply to some Internet-facing smart home devices and systems? Possibly – it all comes down to the configuration of communications paths and the level of integration applied between network devices and lightweight management controllers.

NTERNET of things is a concept much bandied about inside and outside the electronic security industry but when it comes to most professional security and smart home systems, things tend to be a closed shop. Networks of proprietary devices communicate via wireless, Z-Wave or Wi-Fi comms with a dedicated controller, which in turn communicates with remote smart devices and monitoring stations.

More complex home automation solutions integrating multiple domestic appliances throughout a home for centralised management are a different story. Such a system might incorporate light bulbs, air conditioners, blinds, thermostats, washing machines, irrigation systems and much more. For commercial applications, the demands will be greater

I

still, as will the need for automation to manage the system. In such cases, consumers may want to wrangle all their devices with a single controller – it’s more likely to be a wee PC like Raspberry Pi, than an alarm panel controller. This said, MQTT is often present in more advanced smart home automation hubs.

While there are proprietary comms protocols abounding in the electronic security industry, in the wider world network comms is going to be some form of Message Queueing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol. OpenStack, Open Geospatial Consortium Sensor, DeltaRail IECC Scalable, Adafruit, EVRYTHNG IoT, Amazon IoT, Home Assistant, Pimatic for Raspberry Pi, MS Azure IoT hub and more, all use MQTT for device communications.

What is it? Developed by Andy StanfordClark of IBM and Arlen Nipper of Cirrus Link on the back of the SCADA protocol back in 1999, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport is an ISO standard publishsubscribe-based messaging protocol which sits on top of the TCP/IP protocol and it designed to facilitate connection with remote locations when bandwidth and power are in very short supply, which is great for wireless-based home automation applications.

MQTT is a flexible protocol. The application layer runs on top of the TCP/IP network and covers BGP, DHCP, DNS, FTP, HTTP, IMAP, LDAP, MGCP, MQTT, NNTP, NTP, POP, ONC/RPC, RTP, RTSP, RIP, SIP, SMTP, SNMP, SSH Telnet, TLS/SSL, XMPP and more, the Transport layer is just as comprehensive and the Internet and Link

50 se&n

SEM0918_50monitor.indd 50

28/8/18 5:23 pm

Proudly brought to you by

Your Monitoring Specialists

1300 130 515

www.bensecurity.com.au

layers are well catered for. And it’s compact.

The smallest control message might only be 2 bytes in length (the header), though messages can extend to 256MB. Operationally, MQTT uses a hierarchy of topics to communicate and it manages this by firing a control message of data to a connected broker, which distributes the data to clients on the network subscribed to that topic. There’s an elegant simplicity to all this that’s just like an RSS feed.

Because it was developed as a SCADA protocol, MQTT was created to manage short telemetry data messaging in off-line environments. MQTT has no standard and it can carry any payload you throw at it, publishing it to all subscribers.

The publisher of a topic needs no information about subscribers, the subscribers need no information about

publishers. Use of a topic to as a filtration system and file path via which to communicate with subscribers means a message gets delivered to the right subscribers. This means MQTT is great at bridging gaps between devices siloed by proprietary comms protocols – it forms a sort of auxiliary machine language – a mechanical Esperanto.

In standard trim, MQTT transmits connection credentials in plain text format – there’s no security or authentication

applied – you need to use the TCP transport layer to incorporate end-to-end message protection. Alternatively, you could subscribe your devices to a something like the PubNub Network with MQTT for added security, additional functionality, as well as message storage and playback.

The security issues come into play with MQTT when it comes to configuration of a home automation system around a PC or a mini computer using server software like Mosquitto. If the server security config, such as access control, is muffed, then servers will be exposed on the Internet to basic searches using programmes like Shodan and if a hacker gains access to the system then it’s not going to be complicated to gain access to the system and gather information on the state of the alarm system, the times residents come and go, as well as being able to deactivate or activate devices, such as sensors and door locks.

As mentioned, MQTT is often included in smart home hubs where it assists with the delivery of automation capabilities.

The automation side of such systems resides onboard the hub and facilitates unification of devices, as well as providing a dashboard for the management of connected devices. If MQTT is not included in the hub, it can be set up separately and in either case, it allows hubs to subscribe and publish messages about system state and operation, as well as to allow devices to communicate between each other to drive logic – for instance, if the soil sensor detects low threshold soil moisture, activate irrigation.

This capability represents the power of MQTT but also the fragility. A messaging protocol capable of driving system function needs to be thoughtfully configured so it cannot introduce vulnerability into a home automation solution if the server config is mishandled during the process of setup.

Part 2 of The IoT of MQTT next month

MQTT USES A HIERARCHY OF TOPICS TO COMMUNICATE AND IT MANAGES THIS BY FIRING A CONTROL MESSAGE OF DATA TO A CONNECTED BROKER, WHICH DISTRIBUTES THE DATA TO CLIENTS ON THE NETWORK SUBSCRIBED TO THAT TOPIC. THERE’S AN ELEGANT SIMPLICITY TO ALL THIS THAT’S JUST LIKE AN RSS FEED.

se&n 51

SEM0918_50monitor.indd 51

28/8/18 5:23 pm

● Case study

Shoalhaven Council Scott Myles drives a well-designed workstation.

SHOALHAVEN COUNCIL Shoalhaven Council has installed a Panasonic video surveillance solution comprising more than 100 IP cameras, including internal and external dome cameras, outdoor box cameras and PTZs, as well as NVRs, across 10 sites to enhance security and safety of assets, council staff and the public.

HOALHAVEN City, located on the south coast of New South Wales 160 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD, is rolling out a new surveillance system to protect key assets and the current and future needs of the Shoalhaven community. Shoalhaven City Council secured funding for its new CCTV system upgrade in 2017, voting $300,000 towards the project, and partnering with Panasonic after it was unable to find a solution that met operational goals within budget via a tender process.

Director corporate and community and current acting general manager, Craig Milburn, said prior to the work beginning the upgraded solution would include new cameras, software and hardware, and optic fibre links.

“There has not been a major upgrade of the system since it was installed (in 2010),” Milburn said.

“Technology has obviously improved in that time.”

Shoalhaven City Council worked with Panasonic to install video surveillance across the 10 sites -

S

52 se&n

SEM0918_52shoalhaven.indd 52

28/8/18 5:21 pm

BY J O H N A D A M S

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED PUTTING IN THE IP CAMERAS, MANAGEMENT SAW THE DIFFERENCE, AND WERE KEEN TO HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT. THE OLDER CAMERAS COULD MISS IMPORTANT VISION PARTICULARLY WITH MOTION – BUT NOW THEY CAN SEE THE SITE MUCH MORE CLEARLY AND HAVE 24-HOUR BACKUP.

including community centres, animal shelters, aquatic and leisure centres, water reservoirs and sewage treatment plants. A further 5 sites are expected to be added in 2018-2019, including 2 major upgrades at sewage treatment plants in Bomaderry and Nowra.

For asset protection, Shoalhaven Council has increased the capabilities, quality, and reliability of its video surveillance systems by moving from analogue technology at key sites, to Panasonic IP cameras that provide high-quality image capture, backed by network video recorders for high-volume data recording. Simple internet cable installation makes it fast to get systems up and running.

“Previously we had fewer analogue cameras requiring more maintenance - with IP, not only is the visual quality a huge step up, but we have more cameras and less maintenance, which frees us up for other important tasks,” says Stuart Dryburgh, communication technician, Shoalhaven City Council.

With the costs of data storage and the associated burden on network traffic an important consideration when expanding a surveillance network, the council is benefiting from installing network video recorders for local storage on large sites.

This allows Shoalhaven City Council to costeffectively meet Environmental Protection Agency requirements at locations such as the Ulladulla Waste Depot, where vehicle and weighbridge information must be backed up for 12 months once collected.

“Where our analogue systems could only store around 3 weeks of footage, we can now store 44 terabytes and about 500 days of 24/7 recording,” Dryburgh says.

Shoalhaven Council has also begun transitioning to H.265 high data compression technology as it updates its sites. At the Bay and Basin Leisure Centre in Vincentia, H.265 cameras provide the crisp imaging and fast motion detection needed for monitoring around the clock in the 24-hour gym facility, while the built-in smart technology compresses images to reduce the load on storage infrastructure. IP cameras are also installed throughout the aquatic centre to provide a secure environment for customers, with two 6-terabyte video recorders allowing retrieval of any footage that needs to be reviewed by police or other authorities.

Dryburgh said that feedback from staff at the centre had been very positive.

“When we first started putting in the IP cameras, management saw the difference, and was keen to have the technology throughout,” he says. “The older cameras could miss important vision - particularly with motion – but now they can see the site much more clearly and we have 24-hour backup.”

New Panasonic systems already installed in Shoalhaven sewage treatment plants provide 24/7 plant monitoring, so staff can view ladders and sewer inlets, as well as covering after-hours security. The Bombaderry and Nowra sewage treatment plants will be the next locations to receive the benefits of an H.265 installation.

“We’re pleased to be able to support Shoalhaven City Council with reliable, future-proof security solutions as they work to ensure that services and infrastructure continue to meet the needs of the local community,” says Ranjit Sohoni, product marketing manager, security systems at Panasonic Australia.

Supporting the installation was BGWT, Panasonic’s distributor in Australia, which contributed precommissioning and other expertise. n

se&n 53

SEM0918_52shoalhaven.indd 53

28/8/18 5:22 pm

● Special report

CCTV Scott Myles drives a well-designed workstation.

THE PERFECT CCTV SYSTEM Choosing the perfect CCTV system is a balancing act, with performance and cost inevitably opposing one another. For end users it’s vital to ensure the system selected meets achievable operational requirements. Installers, meanwhile, need to listen to their customers, without falling into the trap of over-promising.

NSURING you end up with the perfect CCTV system – perfect for your application, that is – requires effort and engagement, as well as an open-mind and careful selection of hardware and software solutions that meet operational needs. Making sure you get the best networking capability is important, too.

According to Andrew Cho of EOS, the perfect CCTV system provides the best image quality possible in its environment and incorporates smart features to proactively counter threats, as well as sophisticated features to maximise operational efficiency.

“End-users must plan and need to know what

E

54 se&n

SEM0918_54cctv.indd 54

28/8/18 5:34 pm

BY J O H N A D A M S

they want to achieve,” says Cho. “Once their objective is clear, they need to manage the project, ensuring they have done enough research, and understand the available systems. For a large organisation, it is best to have a professional (consultant) to manage the project who is working to a set of clear objectives.

“Installers need to clearly understand the customer’s objective through in-depth discussion and adding professional advice drawing on their know-how is essential to providing the perfect solution. They then need to actively research products to ensure the solution is right for the customer.

“Installers must be open-minded yet at the same time, they need to be cautious of brands and systems they choose. There is no room for failure in security applications, so installers must consider numerous factors and check if all functionality claimed on paper can be delivered in the real world.”

At the core of larger systems is the VMS and establishing what qualities the ideal VMS offers the perfect CCTV system is vital. Camera integration is also important to overall VMS performance.

“In-depth camera integration is one of the most important parts of the VMS,” Cho explains. “The larger the system, the more crucial seamless communication and transmission become with cameras. This integration impacts the overall performance of the VMS, while irregular transmission may cause loss of data.”

For smaller sites, NVRs are central – what are the key functions a good NVR must offer in SME applications?

“With NVRs important aspects include an easy user interface, enough capacity for the retention period, strong cybersecurity protection, smart search functionality and minor redundancy such as ARB (Automatic Recovery Back-Up), which allows the SD recording of the camera to recover a missing time gap if there is a disconnection between the recorder and the camera,” Cho explains.

Something that can be tough to resolve in a perfect CCTV system is camera performance.

The question here is whether or not there’s a line when it comes to the perfect CCTV system. Should there be minimum capabilities in terms of image sharpness, WDR, low light, motion blur, bit rate, etc, for a given angle of view – or is it just too hard to call, given the variations of camera form/specification and the demands of an application?

According to Cho, it’s important not to overengineer the system.

“For example, in the WISENET SAMSUNG range, there is the X series, which is a premium performance line-up with 150dB WDR and builtin analytics,” he explains. “However, not every location has strong backlight or requires analytical functions. In those cases, we recommend the Q series line-up which is more cost-effective and

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR FAILURE IN SECURITY APPLICATIONS, SO INSTALLERS MUST CONSIDER NUMEROUS DIFFERENT FACTORS AND CHECK IF ALL FUNCTIONALITY CLAIMED ON PAPER CAN BE DELIVERED IN THE REAL WORLD. provides a quality image for the lesser challenging environment. With camera form factor, it is important to consider the potential threat to the camera. Usually for any camera mounted less than 3M height a dome is best.”

“Having said this, the availability of different form factors is very important for the perfect CCTV system. Every location is different, and different form factors are designed to serve different requirements.

If the system is an NVR-based solution, then a unified brand is important because of the native integration for a seamless system. However, if the system is a non-proprietary VMS solution, then its biggest advantage is freedom of selecting the best fit for purpose camera from different brands across a range of form factors. It is not crucial to have the same brand across the system unless only one brand can deliver the best outcome for every requirement.”

Cho says a properly provisioned network and storage capability is vital to ensure the full performance of devices can be leveraged.

“Given CCTV is networked, it is crucial to provision the network capability properly,” Cho argues. “The bandwidth of the system and available capacity in a real-life scenario must be measured precisely to ensure the storage is calculated correctly. Once both bandwidth and storage calculations are correct, choosing the right product to deliver becomes an easy process which results in delivering satisfactory result for the end-user.”

Should the ability of a system to support analytics now or in the future be a consideration of the perfect CCTV solution?

“Most of the analytics in a CCTV system are video

se&n 55

SEM0918_54cctv.indd 55

28/8/18 5:34 pm

● Special report

CCTV

content analytic, which means the quality of the video produced by the camera is the key data source to analyse,” says Cho. “Analytics must be considered in the perfect CCTV solution, whether the customer requires this immediately or in the future. The CCTV paradigm is changing from reactive to the proactive handling of events, and analytic plays a key role in proactively preventing threats.”

Does the perfect CCTV system include thermal where appropriate?

“I think thermal could be required in the perfect CCTV system if it is necessary to deliver on the end user’s requirements,” Cho explains.

“Thermal cameras provide a different type of information which non-thermal cannot deliver. If it is used correctly where required, then it will help in designing the perfect CCTV system.

“Integration with multiple sub-systems (or thirdparty system) is another key aspect, as the market is trending towards automated systems which interact with different sub-systems to enhance a user’s overall solution.”

According to Pelco’s Craig Cobbin, an effective CCTV system includes video cameras that can extract detail in challenging lighting conditions, has intelligent video analytics, and an intuitive, flexible VMS that makes it easy for operators to access video or any other key data as quickly as possible. It is also easy to customize or scale, so that operators can add more cameras or put in place different types of cameras to address their changing needs.

“The first step is considering what the problem is you need to address,” Cobbin says. “There are myriad reasons for installing a CCTV system: protecting people and property, minimizing liability, theft prevention, employee accountability, restricting access to sensitive facilities, etc. The next step is determining your budget, including how much you are willing to spend in the initial investment and how much you plan on spending in ongoing operating and staffing costs.”

Cobbin says the key to ensuring the client ends up with exactly what they need operationally is to use your ears.

“Listen to the end-user and try to assess their needs as well as their capabilities in terms of training, staff, and budget,” he says. “If you don’t take those factors into consideration, then you might be setting up the end-user for a system they aren’t equipped to handle.

“Installers need to think critically about the customer they are serving and the types of systems and products that make sense for the specific site.

It also helps to establish a specific team that will manage the surveillance system application.”

According to Cobbin, an ideal VMS integrates with any kind of video camera (analogue or IP) and can provide easy access to their key capabilities, including in-camera video analytics.

“The key here is finding a system that automates many of the responsibilities that previously

A SYSTEM THAT IS AIMED AT EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY AT AN INDOOR LOCATION MAY NOT REQUIRE LOW-LIGHT CAPABILITIES WHILE AN OUTDOOR SYSTEM AIMED AT PROVIDING 24/7 PERIMETER SECURITY WILL.

depended on individual staff, whether that is identifying an abandoned object, counting objects, triggering an alarm for a wrong-way entry, or zooming in on a person entering a facility,” he explains. “These capabilities allow systems to identify problems and alert security personnel as quickly as possible. Above all else, however, an ideal VMS is easy to learn for any operator, whether they come from a surveillance background or a traditional IT background.

“When it comes to smaller sites, most SMEs depend on having an NVR that is easy to install and use, thereby reducing the time and cost spent on training.

To maximize flexibility and save time and staffing costs, it’s key that operators be able to access the video from a variety of sources, including remote mobile devices, and that the system allows operators to quickly search for recorded video that can be saved as a record or shared via email for the purposes of an investigation.”

Camera performance comes down to the unique needs of each organization, Cobbin says.

“A system that is aimed at employee accountability at an indoor location may not require low-light capabilities, while an outdoor system aimed at providing 24/7 perimeter security will,” he explains. “It starts with what is the nature of the environment – is it critical infrastructure or more routine surveillance?

What are the consequences of a breach? What lighting conditions will the area see over the course of a day, a week, a year. How widely spread out is the needed coverage? Is there manned surveillance required?

“There are a wide range of possible cameras that meet varying needs here, as well as tiers of product lines suited for levels of performance. While there’s no such thing as a universally perfect camera, there are effective cameras for certain situations. The ideal CCTV installation needs to be able to accommodate a variety of cameras that can address the challenges of coverage required in each situation.”

Storage needs to be carefully managed to meet varying needs, according to Cobbin. And analytics is now an area that demands serious consideration, as is thermal.

“Operators have different priorities when it comes to storage,” he explains. “An effective CCTV system should allow for adequate storage of the requisite days of video that meets business and regulatory needs. Since storage accounts for a substantial portion of total system cost, it is important to take advantage of compression technologies emerging in IP security cameras that minimize storage without significantly compromising image quality.

“Further, surveillance systems are no longer simply a means to record video. They are also a means to gather and analyze a variety of data. The more that CCTV systems can leverage data analytics, the better they will become at identifying and even foreseeing problems before they occur. Also, quickly identifying people and vehicles of interest after an incident across petabytes of video from dozens or hundreds of

56 se&n

SEM0918_54cctv.indd 56

28/8/18 5:34 pm

cameras is a challenge. Video analytics can greatly speed this up and eventually look for patterns that enable predictability of future events.”

“Thermal capabilities are also useful in areas with no light where longer range viewing is desired.

They are good for perimeter security, in critical infrastructure and are particularly suited to detect the presence of people and running vehicles with appropriate video analytics.”

Cobbin argues that the ability to integrate with multiple sub-systems is a key aspect of an effective CCTV system.

“The ideal CCTV system is flexible and scalable,” he says. “Operators should be able to easily add capabilities as their needs and budget evolve and they should be able to know that their current system will be able to take advantage of new tools that come to market.”

Avi Gerbi, FLIR’s managing director - Asia Pacific region, says there isn’t a one-size fits all, “perfect” CCTV solution for all deployments - some functions could be more important than others, depending upon the application.

“In theory, a perfect CCYV system will properly address each of the areas that are typically handled

by CCTV systems, which are: live monitoring, realtime handling of events, situational awareness, data retention and video surveillance,” he explains.

“Taking this into account, it’s important for end-

users to define clear objectives, including details such as how they are planning to use the CCTV system, what are the known security threats and concerns, typical use cases and so on. The more the end user is involved in the early stages of the design, the better. The amount of planning required varies case by case, based on the size, volume, level of threats, applications, and the type and nature of the end user and the site being protected.

“Meanwhile, installers need to design the CCTV system according to a clear set of goals defined by the end users, given that solutions are not generically perfect but can be close to perfect on a case-by-case basis if they deliver the functionalities that are required to address the end user goals,” Gerbi says. “In addition, it is important to conduct a site survey prior to making the design and include a service maintenance agreement to guarantee that the deployment will continue to serve its goals for the long run.

“I would agree that installers should be open minded and try to select the ideal system layout and product type based on the project needs, not based on their own convenience. Installers play a role of consultants and subject matter experts and as such they should be objective when it comes to system design and product selection.”

Gerbi says there are many qualities the ideal VMS gives a perfect CCTV system.

se&n 57

SEM0918_54cctv.indd 57

28/8/18 5:34 pm

● Special report

CCTV

“When it comes to large systems there are several areas that are crucial for the VMS to be able to address,” he explains. “This includes distributed architecture, failover, redundancy, tools and methods for dealing with network overhead (network load, bandwidth peaks, spikes, latencies etc.), robust UI, tools for searching and browsing through vast amounts of video and high camera counts, remote access, user management. It is very important that the VMS will be tested and certified to function properly under significant workloads.

“On smaller sites, depending on the case, application and type of end users, some deployments would favour simplicity over feature set and vice versa. That said, there are several functions that are important to most of the NVRdeployment use cases, such as good cyber security with a continuous upgrade path, robust web client, remote access, retention management and the ability to receive and properly handle events and alarms.”

Gerbi says camera capabilities are subject to trade-offs.

“There are 2 primary trade-offs – being cost/ performance, whereas camera features and performance levels and reliability are directly related to the cost of the camera,” he explains. “Then there’s observational surveillance/evidentiary surveillance, which in many ways is like choosing between high-detail coverage of a small area and low-detail coverage of a wide area.”

“This said, it is very important to select camera types and form factors that are designed to meet the specific objectives of each application. Different camera types and form factors address different coverage needs, and in some cases, a specific form factor such as 180 and 360-degree camera allows cost savings by having a single camera which can replace multiple cameras covering the same area.”

According to Gerbi, network and storage requirements for a CCTV deployment are set to ensure that the system will meet its general requirements as defined by the customer or a consultant on his behalf.

“As such it is crucial to have the network properly provisioned and the storage to suffice, for instance in most cases there are strict requirements for retention policies which otherwise they will not be met,” Gerbi says. “The ability of a system to support analytics now or in the future should also be a consideration, however, such consideration does not depend on camera performance or data quality.

“Instead it should rely on the following criteria (each of the following is a plus): existing support for video analytics by the camera and/or VMS, existing or future interfaces to connect with the cloud, nearterm roadmap with new analytics offerings and continuous investment in this area by the camera/ VMS vendor, open platform approach by the camera/VMS vendor and an existing network of technology partners including video analytics.”

According to Gerbi, the perfect CCTV system includes thermal imaging.

“The perfect CCTV system should include thermal where appropriate,” he says. “When working with video cameras alone, lighting can play a significant role in image capture. Unlike other video solutions, thermal cameras do not need light to capture high contrast quality footage, as such the integration of thermal imaging cameras can provide end users with a multitude of benefits - from better, more accurate intrusion-based analytics to lower cost deployment resulting from cost savings in artificial lighting and longer detection distances.

“The ability to integrate with multiple sub-systems is another very important benefit of a CCTV system, given that most deployments would include other systems as part of the security and safety operation and without integration each of these systems will work separately adding overhead and complexity.

Jordan Cullis of Milestone Systems argues that in the modern era, an ideal system should include “advanced features such as search and detect, mobile access and alerts for 24-hour monitoring, and an intelligent solution that can integrate with other security systems including analytics, access control, IOT devices and even applications from outside the security realm. AI can bring so much more than just static surveillance to a CCTV system these days, there is almost limitless scope for adding functionality.”

Cullis says the word ‘governance’ is being used these days to describe the holistic approach to an advanced security system.

“It’s probably the best way of looking at the process behind choosing and managing the ideal solution for a particular end-user,” he explains. “Ideally, you want a solution that not only provides excellent surveillance, but one that is programmable to the company’s unique requirements, literally giving them the ability to govern their space in the best way possible.

That may include automation, video analytics for managing spaces better, IoT connectivity between devices for managing attendance and access control, and a host of other features.

58 se&n

SEM0918_54cctv.indd 58

28/8/18 5:34 pm

“For installers, understanding the customer’s vision is key to success in designing end-to-end solutions. Ensuring that product selection caters to that vision is key, as is ensuring that it does not lock the customer into solutions that throw up immovable barriers in development or strategy change. In addition to this, integrators need to ensure they are skilled in the products they are using and this requires maintaining a strong relationship with those vendors.”

At the core of larger systems is the VMS. “To fully realise the enormous potential behind a VMS, it is critical to find one that is an open platform,” Cullis argues. “This will allow the VMS to integrate with other systems and provide a company with the power to tailor their own solution to their unique requirements. An open platform can link with features such as facial recognition and video analytics, allowing a truly smart solution that is capable of mapping foot traffic, recognising licence plates, and identifying individuals by their physical features and integrating non-security related data.

“I can see a time when NVRs are pushed to the lower-end market as the development of cloudbased solutions is being commercialised. Cloud VSaaS organisations now have the capability to provide SME solutions on an Op-Ex model and the ability to deploy cost effective VMS instances to consumers. These deployments can still be integrated to enterprise level VMS products and forensic analytics in the cloud, all while maintaining processing and storage capabilities at the edge with low-cost Windows-based hardware.

“On that topic, it is imperative to have fast, reliable hardware behind any security system,” Cullis says. “Now that GPU-offloading can achieve exponentially greater levels of video analysis and processing, the speed, scalability and stability of the network backbone and storage facilities is going to become ever more important in order to keep up with processing demand. When selecting a VMS, it is imperative you understand the level to which GPU-offloading, RAID array options and software grooming has been utilised.”

Should the ability of a system to support analytics now or in the future be a consideration of the perfect CCTV solution according to Cullis?

“Very much so,” he says. “Analytics is rapidly becoming an integral part of an advanced CCTV solution, and it stands to reason that the betterquality of an image, the more reliable the analysis is going to be. Integration is definitely important, too. There is a vast amount of scope for integrating different elements into a CCTV system to arrive at a smarter, safer solution with much greater functionality.

“As discussed, an open platform VMS should provide the backbone for this integration, linking many key elements of the perfect security ecosystem. VMS is almost an outdated acronym

ANALYTICS IS RAPIDLY BECOMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN ADVANCED CCTV SOLUTION, AND IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THE BETTERQUALITY OF AN IMAGE, THE MORE RELIABLE THE ANALYSIS IS GOING TO BE. INTEGRATION IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, TOO.

when talking about the vast array of integrations companies like Milestone now validate as part of their partner community. These integrations are not necessarily with camera, analytic or access vendors. In some cases, they may be BMS, automation and control, authentication, IT security or other IOT vendors.”

Over at Mobotix, John Lavater says end users seeking the perfect CCTV system need to do plenty of planning and get involved with management of the process.

“Engaging with vendors from within the CCTV space to determine the ideal product fit for the project goes a long way to creating the “perfect” CCTV system,” he points out. “Having the end user table their site needs, pain points and expectations allows the vendor to clearly convey if their suite of tools is appropriate for the solution.

“Meanwhile, a clear line of dialogue between installer, consultant and end user needs to be established during the design process. Offering to do on-site testing or a proof of concept showing equipment working in a live environment can eliminate guess work and grey area surrounding a project.”

“For installers, flexibility is key - the copy/paste mentality of specifications can’t continue, as there isn’t a one size fits all product on the market today,” Lavater says.

When it comes to baseline camera performance when it comes to the perfect CCTV system minimum capabilities in terms of image sharpness, WDR, low light, motion blur, bit rate, etc, Lavater says yes and no.

“A lot of it comes down to the application in question and the desired outcomes based around said application,” he explains. “For example, you would desire higher frame rates for ANPR based applications, higher resolutions for broader coverage areas or WDR for entrance cameras focused on facial recognition.

“On the network side you could argue that network and storage infrastructure are more important than the CCTV hardware itself, without the required bandwidth, camera resolution may need to be lessened and by doing so, image quality would be reduced also.

“Certainly, I think the vast majority of specifications that hit the market today have a large emphasis on analytics, being able to provide additional business intelligence within a solution can be key differentiator between brand X and brand Y successfully winning a project, while also adding true value to a project.

“And the sheer amount of utility available within thermal technology cannot be underestimated, either. Whether it be used for perimeter protection, process monitoring or personnel safety, the valueadd of thermal within a CCTV system very often turns a good CCTV system into an excellent one.” n

se&n 59

SEM0918_54cctv.indd 59

28/8/18 5:34 pm

● Regulars

Products

Editor’s choice

What’s new in the industry.

CSM DISTRIBUTING AUSSIE-MADE AARC EVAC

DAHUA ULTRA 4K H.265 NVR

l AARC Evac system is an autonomous, wireless-linked, emergency alert system for

l LSC has released Dahua’s 64-channel Ultra 4K H.265 network video recorder.

The unit features an embedded Linux operating system, quad-core Intel processor, support for 64 IP cameras, a global input bandwidth of 384Mbps, up to 12MP resolution for preview and playback, support for RAID 0/1/5/6/10, iSCSI and Mini SAS for expanded storage, smart tracking and intelligent video. A feature of the unit is a 7-inch HD LCD monitor.

There’s 2-way talk, 2 HDMI outputs, multi-screen display up to 3840 x 2160 pixels, compression options include H.265/H.264/MJPEG, bit rate is 16Kbps ~ 20Mbps per channel, there’s camera title, time, video loss, camera lock and motion detection. Trigger events include recording, PTZ, tour, alarm out, video push, email, FTP, snapshot and buzzer.

Meanwhile, there are 396 video motion detection zones, alarm on video loss and tampering, 16 alarm inputs, 8 relay outputs and tracking trigger events include zoom, tracking, recording, preset, snapshot, alarm, etc.

better response times and better outcomes. Communication is vital to the success and best outcomes of emergency management situations. Autonomous self-contained receivers eliminate the single-point-of-failure typical with traditional PA-based systems.

Australian-designed and manufactured, Aarc’s unique features and benefits include improved medical and first aid response times, lockdown messages to secure buildings against external threats and additional security for front-of-house and reception staff. According to CSM, the Aarc range is proving invaluable within the government, industry, education and community sectors, and the solution attracted plenty of attention at the recent Security 2018 Exhibition Distributor: Consolidated Security Merchants Contact: 1300 663 904

AIRKEY FOR EVVA l ACCORDING to EVVA Australia, the way we do business has changed and now

Distributor: LSC Contact: 1300 646 269

the way we manage our security has too. Introducing EVVA AirKey – a smart access control system, created to give you simple and smart control over the security of your business.

AirKey is the next evolution of locking systems, transforming a smart phone into a key. Available on both iPhone and Android, this system has been designed to meet the needs of business owners and office managers. Using the online app, you can manage who has access to your business, track entry and exit times, and even remotely send temporary access to visitors and contractors.

Distributor: EVVA Australia Contact: 1300 003 882

60 se&n

SEM0918_60prods.indd 60

28/8/18 5:38 pm

MOBOTIX MXMOVE ONVIF COMPLIANT CAMERAS l MXMOVE is a range of ONVIF compliant, 3MP and 4MP Mobotix cameras that can be connected to any brand of VMS or NVR. Incorporating all industry standard features such as autofocus, WDR and integrated IR illumination these cameras now provide situational surveillance options.

This new range from the German manufacturing powerhouse compliments Mobotix’s existing range of intelligent indoor, intelligent outdoor and thermal video systems allowing the integrator to offer a complete Mobotix video solution.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

ALLEGION INTEGRATES KERI SYSTEMS’ SOFTWARE WITH SCHLAGE LOCKS l ALLEGION says the latest version of the Keri Systems’ software now supports Schlage locks in no-tour mode. No-tour mode allows for the altering of access to a lock without having to visit it. The supported locks, which include Schlage Control, NDE and LE, are said to be well-suited for multifamily property managers looking to retrofit their existing properties with electronic access control on individual apartment spaces.

Allegion says this provides more security, eliminates unnecessary expenses around managing traditional keys and offers an enhanced tenant experience with ID card or phone access. It also makes it an option to consider for common areas within the building such as meeting rooms, recreational areas and laundry rooms.

“With the added no-tour capabilities, we now offer the ability to manage Schlage locks in RS-485, Gateway and Wi-Fi Direct modes,” says Vince Deiuliis, director of marketing and national accounts for Keri. “We pride ourselves on being able to show our dedicated support to this powerful and flexible locking solution.”

Distributor: Allegion Contact: 1800 374 374

NESS M1 Z-WAVE GATEWAY & BRIDGE l NESS Corporation’s flagship security and automation controller just got even smarter with 2 new automation interfaces hitting the market. The new NESS M1 Z-WAVE GATEWAY plugs into the premises network to provide native control of Z-Wave devices from the M1.

“Given the huge choice of Z-Wave peripherals available, this clever new capability takes the M1 controller where everybody wants to be - in the exciting world of Z-Wave automation,” says Peter Mohan. “Ness stocks a wide variety of Aoetec Z-Wave devices from LED light bulbs, in-wall switches, smart power points, security devices and more, so you are assured of quality products with professionally supported warranties.

“The second new M1 interface really has tongues wagging (pun intended),” laughs Mohan. “NESS M1 AUTOMATION BRIDGE allows voice control of M1 systems via one of the popular home assistants such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Apple Homekit. “OK, Google, turn on the porch light”, “Alexa, start the pool pump”, “Hey Siri, open the curtains” - all this is possible via your M1 system right now.”

NESS M1 AUTOMATION BRIDGE connects to the premises network to provide powerful voice control of Ness M1 outputs, lights and tasks making it ideal for hand-free home automation, assistance for the disabled and elderly, voice activation for smart-homes.

Distributor: Ness Corporation Contact: +61 2 8825 9222

se&n 61

SEM0918_60prods.indd 61

28/8/18 5:38 pm

● Regulars

Products

Editor’s choice CSD LAUNCHES HID MOBILE ACCESS SERVICE l CSD has launched its new HID mobile access service, saving end users money by

using smart devices as access credentials.

“Our new HID Mobile Access service now makes this unique system of presenting your mobile at a reader, to gain access to a building attainable for all our customers,” said Mark Edwards general manager products and marketing at CSD. “We can now provide HID mobile access credentials for all installations with as few as 10 users - and up.”

CSD’s self-managed, HID Mobile Access portal allows installers and integrators to issue HID Mobile Access credentials in smaller quantities, making this service available for smaller sites. Traditionally, to gain access to the HID Mobile Access credentials the Integrator or End User had to manage their own portal and buy Mobile Access credentials in minimum order quantities of 100. CSD’s managed portal makes HID Mobile accessible to everyone, opening up the market opportunities to every size of installation.

“Think of these Mobile Access credentials a simply just another HID, in house credential that can be ordered by any of our customers,” Edwards said. “They simply need to send us an order for however many credentials they require and very quickly the validation keys are emailed to the integrator.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

What’s new in the industry.

NESS DISTRIBUTING HIKVISION ACCESS CONTROL SOLUTIONS l NESS is now distributing Hikvision’s access control solutions. Hikvision Access Control provides a complete solution offering everything from access controllers and readers, to door locks, exit buttons, cards and more – fully integrated with Hikvision’s CCTV and VMS system, according to Peter Mohan of Ness Corp.

“With 2 and 4 door controllers supporting both RS485 and Weigand readers, up to 200,000 users, up to 600,000 events, the system can also be integrated with Hikvision CCTV and Hikvision advanced VMS for integrated command and control,” Mohan said.

“The range of professional readers includes advanced prox card readers with and without keypad, high security biometric fingerprint readers, standalone terminals and elevator control.”

Distributor: Ness Corporation Contact: +61 2 8825 9222

BGWT PUSHING INTO TIER 1 SEGMENT WITH PANASONIC CAMERAS l BGWT’S Robert Meachem says the company is pushing further into the Tier 1 video surveillance segment with Panasonic cameras, including the latest 5MP H.265 Extreme range.

“While others in our industry are focused on volume and driving down price in the camera segment, Panasonic has remained focused on innovation and brilliant build quality,” Meachem said. “The facts are that the government and enterprise segments that managed huge infrastructure, assets, risk and maintenance programs can’t afford to take short term views on the returns on its capital investment.

“In many cases products are required to be operational in the field for 7+ years and the notion of failure within that time frame is simply an unacceptable risk and cost. The cost of failure is far beyond the product cost alone and this is why Panasonic and a few other Tier 1 brands are growing their market share.”

As part of Panasonic’s strategic push into the key verticals of public safety, safe city, corrections, logistics and transport, Panasonic Australia has just released through BGW Technologies its new 5 Mega Pixel H.265 Extreme range of cameras capable of capturing images at up to 30 frames per second. The 5MP models come in 3 types – S1550L Outdoor Box Camera, S2250L Indoor Dome Camera, and S2550L Outdoor Dome Camera.

Distributor: BGW Technologies Contact: +61 2 9674 4255

62 se&n

SEM0918_60prods.indd 62

28/8/18 5:38 pm

ICT TSEC CARD READER FROM LSC l TSEC from LSC offers extra card reader range to provide a complete multitechnology smart card RFID solution that is compatible with DESFire and Mifare cards.

Compatible with all Weigand data capable control systems and incorporating RS-485 communication, TSEC readers allow rapid deployment of secure technology in any environments.

This model supports Mifare and DESFire formats and communicates via encrypted RS-485 or standard Weigand protocols. TSEC has a fully-encapsulated design that’s IP65-rated for outdoor and indoor use. There’s a bi-colour LED (blue and green), with independent or single LED control.

Read range is up to 60 mm with proximity ISO cards, voltage draw parameters are between 9.5 and 14V DC, operating current draw is 130mA peak, dimensions are 115 (H) x 73 (W) x 18 mm (D). ICT TSEC is available in black or white and there are combination reader and keypad versions available.

Distributor: LSC Contact: 1300 646 269

ISCS BLUVISION TECHNOLOGY l SECURITY and access control distribution business ISCS, part of ARA Products, has expanded its security offering with the announcement the company will be distributing Bluvision’s range of products.

Bluvision is a complete IoT solutions provider recently acquired by HID Global, with a platform that ranges from sensor beacons, personal ID beacons, gateways and SaaS infrastructure that enables remote fleet, workflow and event management.

Bluvision’s end-to-end solution is designed to handle challenges on a global scale capable of managing millions of events across millions of devices on a daily basis.

The Bluvision products offer a low cost, hardware agnostic infrastructure that is fast and easy to implement that allows for asset tracking, indoor location monitory, proximity marketing and extensive analytic reporting.

Stuart Harmer, managing director of ISCS and ARA Products, says Bluvision’s stateof-the-art product range is a perfect fit for ISCS, where the focus is always on offering clients the most advanced solutions possible.

“Bluvision has a very impressive line of products,” Harmer said. “All are designed to increase productivity, safety and efficiency. The current applications are extremely impressive, and the potential to expand what the products can do is exceptional.”

X2 RACKS FROM CSD l CSD introduces a new range of 19-inch rack cabinets designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of the Australian security industry.

The 19” industry standard cabinets are perfect for storing all data equipment, NVR’s, switches and peripherals. These strong, rugged and secure cabinets are manufactured with a fully welded body and can handle up to a 60Kg load, making them suitable for most applications. Complete with a lockable tempered glass front door, removable side panels and cable entries from the top and bottom, they are available to purchase now in sizes of 6RU, 12RU and 18RU in both single or double section.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

Distributor: ISCS Contact: 1300 111 010

se&n 63

SEM0918_60prods.indd 63

28/8/18 5:51 pm

● Regulars

Help desk ■ Below are the approximate recommendations for rest times (complete rest, that is) between sets according to your goal, per the National Streng th and Conditioning Association (NSCA). *Note that since fat loss depends primarily on diet, there is no official rest-period prescription for it, although we feel that both short and long rests work, depending on the program.

Q: We have only 2 zones in a very small alarm system for PIRs and are wondering where you think would be the best location would be in a singlestorey domestic application.

A: Design of the home is going to dictate this to some extent, but we’d be looking at covering transit areas at right angles to the sensor. Spend a bit of time walking around and getting a sense of how the internal spaces flow, then cover those paths of flow. This will vary between an open plan modern home or an older style home with bedrooms connected to living areas by a hall that also opens into a sitting room, but the principles of flow will be the same, no matter how bad that flow happens to be. Basically, you’re going to forego covering primary areas such as the living room/hall/ front door at the front of the home and the family room/backdoor at the rear of the home in exchange for detecting movement on the transit routes between as many areas as possible. In some cases, a single angle of view will allow one PIR to cover almost every instance of movement in a single-storey home – from bedrooms to kitchen, from living room to bathroom, from family room to kitchen, from kitchen to backyard. Look for areas of greatest wear in the carpet or the presence of protective rugs when hunting for high traffic areas.

Our panel of experts answers your questions.

Q: Similar to the integrator last issue, we have undertaken a number of solar powered surveillance and perimeter intrusion detection applications that have delivered iffy performance and not only in winter. We’re in Queensland, so there’s plenty of sun, but have found if there’s a run of cloudy days – 3 or 4 will do it – your solution can chew through its AH budget and shut down. In a couple of remote mining applications this has been the cause of power fail alarms that have resulted in a couple of expensive long-distance charter flights that wound up being wasted to some extent, as by the time our tech arrived the sun was out, the batteries had charged, and we were able to remotely re-activate the system. I was interested in your point that integrators should install systems they are able to tweak on the fly. If you were trying to combat cloudy days and had a limited budget, what would you buy more of – batteries or panels?

A: In the first instance, we’d present a vigorous case to the customer that overspecification of the battery bank is an investment worth making. Buy more AH than you need and buy the best batteries you can. The math goes like this. Draining an AGM battery to 50 per cent of its capacity will see a lifespan of 1000 cycles, which is about 2.7 years. But if you’re only drawing down to 80 per cent of capacity each cycle, an AGM battery bank may last 5000 cycles, which is 13.7 years. Sure, that lifespan is optimistic, but you can see

why better batteries end up saving pots of money. AGM batteries are expensive – a Lifeline 255AH AGM costs about $A1250 (retail) – so the less often you buy new batteries, the lower your TCO will be over 10 years or more.

Having said this, there is a less expensive way to increase your generation capacity on cloudy days – that’s to over-specify the solar array. The ideal method is to note the generation capability of the system with cloud cover – it will be 20-30 per cent of clear sky capacity, depending on cloud thickness. Use that worst-case generation capacity as your yardstick for designing the system. Solar panels are cheap, and I don’t mean low-quality panels, either.

You can buy good stuff for not much. So, get quality batteries with thick plates that offer more AH than you think you’ll need, then over-specify solar generation. Just be sure to use a quality regulator capable of releasing excess electrons without generating too much life-shortening heat on clear days.

Q: I noticed that SEN’s editor reposted an article that highlights worrying uses of face recognition technology on Twitter recently and I’m interested in what your take is on a surveillance technology which might give authorities the power to recognise any person at any time. Is there a way to balance the power of face recognition with citizens’ right to privacy, in your opinion?

A: This is an interesting question and one

64 se&n

SEM0918_64help.indd 64

28/8/18 5:37 pm

from its proposed solution, I think there’s zero chance such systems will not be used for intrusive management and control of populations around the world in the future. In my opinion, co-operating with the establishment of such systems would be to the detriment of the electronic security industry’s significant positive social capital.

that’s very hard to answer. Accurate face recognition has the capacity to streamline many tedious processes, from customs queues to access control. It can also be used to market products to individuals based on known preferences. Worthwhile security applications include the ability to recognise persons of interest and bring them to the attention of security teams and police, as well as to search video surveillance servers for footage of missing persons – essentially making CCTV proactive, which is what we have all wanted for a very long time.

While it’s wondrous in its potential, face recognition is a bit of a double-edged sword. For instance, the article re-posted

by SEN highlights the fact the Australian government is currently working on an identity matching services bill that will create a national biometric database using face recognition technology that can be linked to passports, licenses and more.

If passed by the house, the bill would let multiple government agencies access an individual’s data using a centralised system managed by the Department of Home Affairs.

According to the government, the bill before parliament will simply automate existing data sharing – this argument is true. Yet the very clunkiness of the existing sharing procedures build in a measure of protection for citizens, which is important, given we are only at the dawn of deep learning. Just how capable these face recognition solutions will be in 20 years no one can say. Much more capable - that’s the only certainty.

There are fears in parts of the community

that the government will be able to recognise random people walking in the street using this system. The splintered nature of CCTV systems around Australia (and everywhere else) and the cost of integrating them coherently precludes this, as does the fact face recognition is hard to do properly – you’re not going to manage it with typical wide-angle situational awareness cameras.

Regardless, this fear of eroded personal liberties, and the possibility there will be mismanagement of a potentially pervasive system, leaves the electronic security industry open to being viewed less as a protector of society and more as the facilitator of a species of surveillance state.

Given the industry’s inherently protective nature – and we all feel that nature - it’s important we have open conversations about face recognition to ensure we are not seen in a damaging light, and that we balance liberty and security with delicacy.

Protocols need to be established and checks put in place to ensure this powerful technology can be used for good – to enhance efficiencies and save time - but not as a tool of societal control. In writing this sentence, I appreciate its improbability, but we must try. Consider that presently, the bill doesn’t require law enforcement agencies to get a warrant before using the system to identify someone. This looseness needs to be resolved through the introduction of protective processes that still retain flexibility, allowing law enforcement agencies to manage investigations with maximum efficiency.

While the Australian Government is seeking cost reduction and operational efficiency

Q: I read last month’s alarm panel feature with interest and wondered whether the traditional alarm panel has a future. Judging from the images of products from Security 2018 – so many control boards – it seems that it does. If faced with a choice of the types, which would you choose?

A: I think a networked version of the traditional panel does have a future – most notably in the commercial and government markets – but it’s likely there will be retention in the domestic market as well.

Is a traditional solid-state security solution potentially more robust than an internetfacing, hub-based solution, incorporating network components without battery backup? Yes, I think you could successfully argue that it is. Do hub-based security, safety and automation solutions offer brilliant flexibility and great power through remote management, integrated video verification and sensor agnosticism? They certainly do. Personally, I would choose a system that offers hardwired sensors and core peripherals, Z-Wave and Wi-Fi capability, wall-powered CCTV cameras with recent Sony sensors, the capacity for remote management, and professional monitoring, with the entire system designed and installed in such a way that it never, ever false alarms. Your customers may have other preferences. n

se&n 65

SEM0918_64help.indd 65

28/8/18 5:37 pm

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE 402

events

STATE OF PERFECTION l Fredon, Chubb Security, Saab Power Clarence Correctional Centre l Product Review: SCSI Redefines Alarm Systems l News Report: Hills Returns to Profit, Security Grows 2 Per Cent l Special Report: Best Products of Security 2018 l Case Study: Northern Territory Police Get Upward Mobility l The Interview: Mark Cunnington l Alarm Monitoring: The Internet of MQTT l Case Study: Shoalhaven Council Installs Panasonic CCTV l Special Report: Selecting The Perfect CCTV System

PP 100001158

+

Secutech Thailand Dates: November 8-10, 2018 Venues: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center Contact: +886 2 8729 1099 Secutech Thailand is a premier platform to showcase the latest innovations and build up strategic partnerships with the supply chains of security, smart home and fire and safety products.

SECURITY & GOVERNMENT EXPO

Security and Government Expo 2018

Date: November 8, 2018 Venue: The Realm Hotel, Canberra Contact: Monique +61 2 9280 4425 Security and Government Expo is a one-day expo with over 30 companies promoting their technologies and products in the nation’s capital. SAGE brings together government and commercial end users, consultants, integrators and installers in Canberra and the ACT to see the latest security solutions in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

+

ISC West Dates: April 9-11, 2019 Venue: Sands Expo, Las Vegas, NV, USA Contact: Outside the US call +1 203 840 5602 or email inquiry@isc.reedexpo.com ISC West is the largest security industry trade show in the U.S. allowing you to network with more than 30,000 security professionals, with technology encompassing everything from access control to unmanned vehicles from more than 1000 manufacturers and distributors.

SecTech Roadshow 2019 Dates: May 2019 Venues: 5 city Australian tour Contact: Monique Keatinge +61 2 9280 4425 SecTech Roadshow in its 5th year takes leading electronic security manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers on a national tour.

Security 2019 Exhibition & Conference

= DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY.

SEM0918_66events.indd 66

Date: July 24-26, 2019 Venue: International Convention Centre, Sydney Contact: +61 3 9261 4662 Security Exhibition & Conference offers Australia's largest showcase of cutting-edge security technologies from more than 150 exhibitors.

28/8/18 5:35 pm

SECURE YOUR WORLD

SUPPORTED BY AN EXTENSIVE, INNOVATIVE R & D TEAM ONE OF THE LARGEST GLOBAL EXPORTERS OF CCTV NEW SERIES 5 MP & 8MP CAMERA RANGE INBUILT FACIAL RECOGNITION COMING SOON BEST IN CLASS IPHONE & ANDROID APPS NEW PTZ RANGE USER FRIENDLY GUI INTERFACE 2 YEAR WARRANTY

SEM0918_67.indd 1

28/8/18 9:47 am

END TO END

ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS 123-ABC

The worlds best brands, a world class solution, only at CSD.

SEM0918_68.indd 1

28/8/18 9:47 am