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SECURITY
How secure is your network? Protect Against Cyber Attacks with SMARTtechnology passwords, many IP cameras, DVRs, and NVRs have to combat the malicious code needed to connect the device to a botnet. Once a surveillance device has been infected, it becomes a tool used to take down target servers. After the latest wave of high-profile cyber attacks, updating default passwords on connected devices has taken first priority when securing a system. Security integrators and manufacturers are quickly adapting to the ever-changing cyber landscape, though. Proactive protection against cyber attacks is being implemented on many new, highperformance video servers.
BCDVIDEO SMARTTECHNOLOGY In recent months, there has been a multitude of cyber attacks targeting video surveillance systems and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the aftermath of the Mirai botnet attack, an incredibly powerful DDoS attack, some of the largest surveillance manufacturers scrambled to address the extreme vulnerabilities built into their devices. The expansion of the IoT has only compounded the problem by providing hackers with almost unlimited resources for carrying out their attacks. As more devices connect to a single network, the total system security is only as strong as the most vulnerable connected device. So, how can security professionals protect their system against these attacks?
GAINING ACCESS TO YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM A single data breach cost businesses $4 million on average in 2016 according to the Ponemon Institute. With the costliest attacks coming from malicious code and denial of service. The role surveillance networks play in these attacks comes from the relatively low-security, commonly factory default
BCDVideo SMARTtechnology offers a single pane, simple monitoring solution. System administrators receive alerts for 32 system parameters for proactive troubleshooting on your video recorder or access control server all from within the performance panel. The exclusive SMARTtechnology includes:
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video software and camera settings to the last backup. • SMARTrestoration: restores a system to BCDVideo’s project optimized factory image. • SMARTconnect: A trusted private and secure connection to a BCDVideo support technician. Provides technical access (when user approved) for remote diagnostics and troubleshooting • Intelligent hard drives within each system come with a predictive failure alert system and fault indicators to monitor and store data about the drive’s operational state. This allows for preventative on-site service calls and zero downtime before a drive fails. For more information: visit bcdvideo.com or email info@bcdvideo.com
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Controlling Abu Dhabi Timothy Compston speaks to Khalfan Al Hassani, head of ICT at the Information and Communication Technology Division at the Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre about its role in keeping the largest city in the UAE secure The Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC) was created with the aim of providing Abu Dhabi with an integrated smart and safe city platform across multiple key organisations. A good example of the difference that ADMCC can make to the safety and security of the second largest city in the UAE – and the largest (by area) of the emirates – was underlined when the 2016 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was held at the Yas Marina Circuit last November in front of 60,000 spectators. It is not surprising that an event on this scale, with the eyes of the world watching, required innovative thinking to support the careful coordination of resources city-wide. A key element to help the ADMCC smooth the wheels of the security operations during the Grand Prix was a solution from Vidsys, a global provider of enterprise Converged Security and Information Management (CSIM) software. In practical terms, this ensured that the City of Abu Dhabi and its stakeholders could utilise real-time situational management software technology for its key security operations around this high-profile event. The ability of Vidsys software to collect, analyse, verify, resolve and 24 | SECURITY MIDDLE EAST | JULY/AUGUST 2017
track information from multiple disparate sub-systems using open architecture standards is, undoubtedly, a key benefit that enables numerous organisations to manage situations in real-time. In this case, through Vidsys’ open architecture platform, the city of Abu Dhabi was able to integrate thousands of cameras from around the city and provide timely data to multiple operations areas during the special event to deliver actionable intelligence for decision makers. According to Vidsys, the vendor has been working closely with the Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC) to support the delivery of an open architecture solution that utilises the Vidsys Converged Security and Information Management (CSIM) platform to interconnect all public spaces as part of the safe and smart city objectives for Abu Dhabi. During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this capability allowed the bringing together not only of information from standard video surveillance cameras but also, crucially, disparate technologies – such as license plate recognition systems and other sensors – to provide a bigger city-wide picture of what was happening, including on the transportation front.
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ADMCC | SPECIAL FEATURE
GIS Award Six months on from the Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC) was once again in the news. This time its innovative credentials were underlined when it secured the prestigious Smart GIS (Geographic Information System) Excellence Award at the 22nd Middle East Smart Government and Smart Services Excellence Awards held in Dubai for the state-of-the-art Vidsys solution it is employing. Khalfan Al Hassani who is the head of ICT at the Information and Communication Technology Division explains: “The Monitoring and Control Centre has been mandated with, and sets the regulatory standards for, integrating all public access cameras onto one platform to provide full uninterrupted coverage of Abu Dhabi.” ADMCC’s Falcon Eye system receives a live feed from surveillance equipment from all across the city from major public buildings to highways. This provides 24x7 CCTV monitoring, analytical event capture and event alerts, face recognition and vehicle license plate recognition (LPR) capture and tracking. To underline the size of the ADMCC operations, Al Hassani says that it provides tens of thousands of 24/7 CCTV feeds and stores Petabytes of what he calls ‘enrichment data’. The scale of the ADMCC operation means that lessons and understanding gained along the way, says Al Hassani, has developed some of the finest engineers in the smart/safe city programme arena: “We are very proud of our team and accomplishments.”
When it comes to public safety and event safety, according to Al Hassani the ‘unmatched’ level of real-time intelligence that the ADMCC supports allows existing security investments to be maximised and, crucially, helps to eliminate guess work in terms of how authorised personnel should respond to a threat: “Our solutions enable public and private organisations to effectively optimise resources and operations while addressing any threat in the most efficient and effective way possible.” Al Hassani believes that the partnership with Vidsys has been successful in providing Abu Dhabi with an ‘exceptional solution’ to meet long-term goals. He adds that thanks to the Vidsys platform ADMCC is well placed to provide the elements necessary to understand the human factors involved and, crucially, to reduce the impact of situational awareness barriers: “This aspect improves the outcome of decisions made under stress.” Discussing how the technologies and methods employed by the ADMCC are changing and the challenges and opportunities it faces, Al Hassani points to the fast-track emergence of smart technology associated with many devices, buildings and critical infrastructure: “This means that more information is widely available to gather and interpret. This analysis provides intelligence on how to act and react to critical situations,” he concludes. Al Hassani also believes that the safe/smart city programme of the MCC provides an economic and environmental boost for Abu Dhabi’s residents: “Safer hotels and public functions provide value to the tourism trade. Integrated sensors help to sustain valuable resources such as water in a somewhat hostile environment.” On the question of whether other cities in the Middle East are likely to follow Abu Dhabi’s example with the ADMCC, Al Hassani confirms that many cities throughout the GCC are already implementing their own safe city projects: “Some are further along than others, however ADMCC has led the move to implement, utilise and improve upon the safety and security of public areas.” Al Hassani says that the Monitoring and Control Centre is not standing still but instead is constantly looking to innovate to enhance its services to provide a deeper level of investigation and data analysis: “Data gathering is key in all aspects of security and will continue to be so.” ‘Falcon Eye’ system throughout the city of Abu Dhabi, including Abu Dhabi International Airport, the main islands, and Bani Yas and Musaffah areas. The system is a complete central system that receives a live feed from visual surveillance equipment installed across the city and displays data in an integral system that provides smart warnings and allows quick access to events and incidents. The system offers other functions and features that correspond with the needs of key ADMCC partners on the service and security levels. The Falcon Eye system links thousands of cameras spread across the city of Abu Dhabi, as well as thousands of other cameras installed at vital facilities and buildings in the emirate, via an electronic interface based on smart analysis, and case by case warnings that call for action from relevant entities. The system will help facilitate notifications and contribute to providing an electronic method to observe events, and monitor and limit violations. The system will help control roads by monitoring traffic violations such as the use of hard shoulders, illegal parking, and the misuse of roads, and by helping to deal with traffic accidents live. The system will also monitor significant behaviours in the city such as public hygiene, and human assemblies in non-dedicated areas. The system will mainly be beneficial to Abu Dhabi entities concerned with traffic monitoring, and will facilitate the management of intersections to increase their efficiency and limit traffic during peak hours. n
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