CCTV Systems

“HELP ME!” No other two words have so much meaning when someone, maybe even you, needs help due to a medical crisis or an assault. Panic buttons can bring that urgency to a whole new level. How do we communicate that message, especially if we are alone, have no phone or are in an area with no cell service? A long list of other issues could also influence this situation. A few years ago,  West Georgia Technical College  (WGTC) was faced with these questions as well as how to send mass notifications to everyone. After much trial and error resulting in no good, reliable solution — especially considering budget constraints–we discovered  CENTEGIX’s  personal panic buttons. Other Campuses’ Emergency Communications Technologies In doing some research, we came across other campuses using the system and visited one such school for a demonstration and Q&A with the school system employees. CENTEGIX’s personnel were not aware at this point that WGTC was looking at their...

Conversation about business risk today typically centers around cybersecurity. And for good reason: losses attributed to cybercrime in the U.S. topped $16.6 billion in 2024, according to the FBI . Because cybersecurity dominates business headlines, organizations have started to build cybersecurity into the fabric of their corporate cultures and daily operations – whether it’s training at onboarding or multi-factor authentication requirements for business software and tooling. But there’s a looming security threat that’s often overlooked: the physical security of a business’ people, assets, and data. As workers have returned to the office, it’s become clear that organizations need to invest in building environments that are not just digitally secure – but also physically secure. That’s where security integrators play a crucial role: being trusted advisors who help bridge the gap between physical and cybersecurity strategies. The State of Business Security Play According to Gartner ...

MONTREAL — Genetec Inc. , a global developer of enterprise physical security software, has announced the introduction of advanced mapping functionalities in Genetec Cloudrunner, its vehicle-centric investigative system. The new Report Map and Device Map features are designed to give law enforcement and security professionals the ability to visualize ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition) information in an intuitive map interface to improve their investigative reach and operational efficiency. “With Cloudrunner’s new mapping tools, law enforcement, security directors, and loss prevention officers can quickly extract meaningful insights and act decisively,” says Larry Legere, commercial director at Genetec Inc . “Whether investigating a crime in a dense urban area or tracking a vehicle of interest across jurisdictions, the new Cloudrunner mapping features provide them with a visual perspective to better understand the situation and plan an appropriate course of action.” Genete...

McLEAN, Va.  – The Monitoring Association (TMA) and SSI recently presented the 2025 TMA/ SSI Monitoring Center Technology Marvel Award to Becklar Monitoring. Daniel Forrest, president of Becklar Remote Guarding, accepted the award , presented by Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, for SSI parent company Emerald, at a virtual awards ceremony on April 24. The Technology Marvel Award “recognizes professional monitoring centers and solutions providers for the innovation and/or implementation of cutting-edge technology,” according to the TMA announcement. “Professional monitoring centers rely on technology to drive their businesses,” the announcement says. “Technology is at the core of the services provided and the processes by which those services are developed and delivered. “For this reason, TMA and SSI  seek to identify and recognize professional monitoring centers who are using technology in innovative ways to introduce new levels of efficiency  or ...

UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas  — A Texas school district is considering integrating drones  into its active shooter prevention plans. Campus Guardian Angels, an Austin-based startup, recently demonstrated its drone technology at a Highland Park ISD elementary school, Houston Public Media  reports. The drones can navigate stairs and hallways, drop pepper spray or flashbangs, or collide with an attacker if necessary, says company CEO Justin Marston. “So our goal is — we get cued because a teacher presses a button on an app, or they hit a silent panic button, and then all of the video cameras and a map of the school comes up in our app center,” Marston continued. “And from that moment, our goal is to respond in five seconds to find and be on the shooter in 15 seconds.” The drones, which are controlled by pilots wearing headsets inside a control center at the company’s headquarters, can also break windows. If one is taken down by an attacker, the company says additional dro...

For this edition of SECURE Perspectives, the Security Industry Association ( SIA ) spoke with Jenna Hardie, director of marketing and PR at HiveWatch, a member of the Women in Security Forum (WISF) Steering Committee and IlluminateHER Subcommittee, and a 2025 WISF Power 100 honoree. Security Industry Association: How did you get into the security industry? Jenna Hardie: More than 11 years ago, the United States Air Force relocated my husband and me to New Mexico, so I began the job hunt. Leveraging LinkedIn, I shared that I was looking for an opportunity that would blend my background in marketing, writing and communications, and a friend I went to journalism school with reached out and said that her small boutique PR firm was looking for a content writer. I applied and was offered the remote position of content development specialist (later moving into account manager and chief of staff and was introduced to the security industry. I quickly fell in love with the relationships t...

SEOUL — IDIS has added to its line of surveillance products through its new Edge AI Plus Camera range, which the company says, gives users more flexible, affordable options to upgrade their video systems with advanced AI functionality , including new automated detection functions. The range includes a host of tools to improve real-time surveillance operations and footage search-and-playback. IDIS points out the Edge AI Plus line of products includes outdoor-ready and vandal-proof 8MP domes such as the DC-D6831WRA, as well as bullet models like the DC-T6831WRA, and an upcoming PTZ model that is scheduled for launch during the summer of 2025. “Our powerful new Edge AI Plus Camera range delivers all the advantages of an intuitive, easy-to-use interface with functions designed for convenient and more efficient and proactive surveillance operations,” says Jun-Jyung Sung, head of product planning team, IDIS . “Crucially, it strengthens security and mitigates safety risk with affordable s...

IRVING, Texas, and TAIPEI, Taiwan — Global cyber-physical systems security provider TXOne Networks recently published its new annual report on operational technology (OT) cybersecurity, detailing risks such as supply-chain vulnerabilities, aging infrastructure, patching difficulties and gaps in incident response. The new report, which is publicly available for free download , reveals “heightened concerns over digital vulnerabilities potentially introduced in deployment of industrial control systems (ICS) such as smart sensors, edge-computing devices, asset-tracking solutions and remote-monitoring tools,” the announcement says. “How can organizations effectively secure these interconnected systems against cyber threats? This is the pressing challenge confronting Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) worldwide,” reads TXOne Networks’  2024 Annual OT/ICS Cybersecurity Report . “Traditionally, cybersecurity strategies have focused on safeguarding IT (information technology) ...

New measures signed into law last week in Washington and Oregon ensure security manufacturers will not be required to disclose sensitive technical information regarding their products, protecting the “right-to-repair” integrity of security and life safety systems and the lives of those who depend on them. On May 22, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law SB 959 , which added an exemption omitted in the state’s right to repair measure applicable to consumer and household electronics enacted in 2024, as part of a larger measure expanding the state’s definition of “burglary tools” to include Wi-Fi or signal jammers. This makes it illegal under state law to possess a Wi-Fi jammer with the intent of using it against an alarm system in order to disable it, further disincentivizing bad actors from using these devices due to the additional charges against them. SB 959’s right-to-repair provision exempts from the 2024 law “an alarm system that consists of an assembly of software, equipment, ...

“What makes a workplace the right fit for me?” That question often surfaces during a job interview or talent search. But real answers rarely come from job descriptions or flashy benefits. The truth is that culture fit isn’t a checkbox; it’s a shared experience that unfolds through action, alignment and the lessons we carry with us. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a PSA TEC session led by Brooke Erickson, PSA’s senior director of learning and marketing, alongside Laura Janssen, director of workforce development at NSCA. The session challenged my view of what it truly means to be part of a team. There is a ‘Me’ You’ve likely heard the phrase, “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” However, as Brooke reminded us, there is a “me.” If you take that a step further, you’ll find that what makes a team strong is the contribution of every individual — each person’s presence, values and effort level matters. That lesson stayed with me. Culture is not built by policies or slogans; rather, it’s b...

Berlin—DoorBird boasts that access control is now getting smarter through the Cloud-to-cloud integration between DoorBird and Homematic IP, which is now available with the release of the 3.5.12 Homematic IP app update. According to DoorBird , homeowners will benefit from improved convenience, increased security, and seamless communication right from the app. “As a German manufacturer, quality, data protection and design are a top priority for us, and these are values that we share with Homematic IP,” comments Sascha Keller, CEO of Bird Home Automation GmbH . “By integrating our IP video door stations into the Homematic IP system, we are offering our customers a particularly convenient way to combine security and smart home functionality.” DoorBird Integration with Homematic IP Delivers Convenience and Homeowner Safety DoorBird door stations provide homeowners with advanced door communication capabilities. These products through its newly announced partnership can now be integrated...

Parking garages can be a great boon to any campus. If done improperly, however, it can turn into a boondoggle. Looking beyond efficient land use, parking structures have also been the source of numerous safety and security issues. Avoiding such problems will require judicious planning and a concerted effort to fitting all pieces of this complex puzzle together in the right order. There is one great truth that all campuses can agree upon: land is expensive. Anything that can provide more space in a smaller footprint will be greatly appreciated, particularly in expensive urban environments. Thus it follows that a world once dominated by vast parking lots will ultimately yield to the creation of above-ground or underground parking garages. They can be hot spots for criminal acts that range from vehicle break-ins to sexual assaults. Avoiding such problems will require judicious planning and a concerted effort to fitting all pieces of this complex puzzle together in the right order. The...

This article is my fourth installment on the new additions to NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2025 edition. If you missed the first two parts of my review, you can see them  here , here and here . In this article, I will cover chapters 21 and 23. NFPA 72 Chapter 21: Emergency Control Function Interfaces The first change is found in 21.2.4.1. A change has been made to the distance that an emergency control function interface may be sited from the equipment that it is intended to trigger. In former editions of NFPA 72, the distance was three feet. There now is an allowance to increase that distance to 20 feet if the conductors are installed within metal raceway or metal armored cables. In addition, if a Class D circuit is to be used, there are no restrictions as to the distance. The language on dedicated function alarm control units was modified within 21.3. In a facility that does not have a required building fire alarm system, Elevator Phase I Emergency Rec...

OAK BROOK, Ill.—Looking back when Chamberlain Group first introduced myQ, the company says it aimed to do more than just allow homeowners to open and close their garage doors from their smartphones; it says it set out to transform how homeowners connect to and control the most important access points of their homes. Continuing its efforts to integrate home access control into smart homes , the company has launched its myQ Outdoor Battery Camera and first-ever myQ Video Doorbell. Chamberlain Group boasts these new products aren’t just new additions to its lineup—the company says these products represent a significant step toward realizing its goal to build a fully integrated access and monitoring ecosystem. myQ Outdoor Battery Camera myQ Video Doorbell Extend Homeowners’ Access Control Capabilities With the new myQ Outdoor Battery Camera and Video Doorbell the company states it is extending myQ’s capabilities beyond the garage, reaching the front door and the outer perimeter of t...

SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Security Industry Association ( SIA ) recently released “ Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST .” Authored by cyber-physical security experts John Deskurakis and Chris Lynch and developed with support from sponsors Allegion, M.C. Dean, ONVIF and Wesco, this report “explores prominent types of operational security technology (OST) and their corresponding challenges, as well as best practices and strategies for optimal delivery,” according to the SIA announcement. This new report “serves as beneficial reading for anyone who is installing security systems, as well as end users of security systems, including corporate security practitioners and business managers who are thinking about their security investments and want to gain a greater understanding of OST,” the announcement says. “SIA is proud to present this groundbreaking new report on the critical area of operational security techn...

Colorado has taken a significant step in the use of facial recognition technology by approving its deployment solely for school security and safety purposes. This decision comes as part of Senate Bill 25-143  (SB25-143), which was passed by the Colorado General Assembly on April 4 and now awaits the signature of Governor Jared Polis. Since 2022, a moratorium has been in place restricting the use of new facial  recognition technologies  in the state. SB25-143, however, lifts this restriction for public schools, allowing specific applications approved by local school boards. The legislation preserves limitations for all other government uses of the technology, which will now be extended beyond the previously set expiration date of July 1. What SB25-143 Allows The law enables schools to use facial recognition technology for narrowly defined safety and security purposes, which include: Alerting staff to individuals who have threatened violence against the school. Qui...

Last month, in the first part of my four-part series exploring how your team members’ competence could affect their performance, I looked at those who fall into the Unconscious Incompetence (UI) category. Now, let’s take a step up the competence pyramid to look at the second competence level — Conscious Incompetence (CI). Conscious Incompetence (CI) The best description for this group is that they are self-aware. They recognize that they lack the knowledge to do a task that is important for their role and career. They recognize that their lack of knowledge is a detriment to advancement in their career. They will make mistakes along this path. How they are coached or mentored through making mistakes is key to their success. I welcome people making mistakes as part of their career growth. Mistakes are great tutors of improvement — once. They have taught me the greatest lessons over the last 40 years. The trick is discovering why and how someone makes a mistake. As a manager, I hav...