Software Defined

Wide-area networking comes to physical security

As physical security technology continues to advance in both complexity and capability, it is increasingly bumping into and being influenced by other technology segments. Cyber security technologies are the first that come to mind, but recently, another true networking technology trend has arisen that is impacting physical security implementations of all kinds. Known as Software-Defined Wide Area Networking or SD-WAN, this connectivity technology is making physical security implementations easier, more flexible, more cost-effective and more reliable than ever before.

SD-WAN technology itself is an offshoot of Software-Defined Networking or SDN. Originally designed for highperformance data centers, SDN is a means of virtualizing important network functions as applications on commodity servers, thus giving IT a major boost in cost, complexity, and flexibility when building new infrastructure. Those same benefits have now grown beyond the data center to Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as well as branch offices in the form of SD-WAN.

WANs are generally used to connect branch offices to a central corporate network or connect data centers together across distance. A SD-WAN moves the “configuration” of these networks into the cloud for IT to manage remotely and brings programmability to the IP connectivity. By doing so, this allows for remotely manageable devices to be installed at these “branch office” or remote locations, thus reducing the need for onsite expertise or management. Having the ability for the WAN links to adapt and work around to any network problems further simplifies the management and operation of the WAN network. This complete package makes for a very flexible and cost-effective means of connecting lots of geographically remote sites together in a cost-effective manner.

So how does this connect to physical security? Let’s start with the most obvious application for where this might be useful: video surveillance. Just think of the number of instances where a large organization has myriad sites, all with multiple cameras at a single site that require monitoring. Even with a single site that is large enough for several dozen cameras would be able to make use of an SD-WAN network. In the simplest terms, these SD-WAN devices will connect all cameras to a cloud network, enabling the organization to monitor all feeds from a single location, while also eliminating the need for a wired network connection. Not only does this consolidate the resources required for monitoring, but it also makes camera placement much more flexible, reaching locations unavailable with a physical wired feed. While wireless cameras are already seeing a great deal of deployment, SD-WANs are different in that they can bond multiple low-cast Internet connections together in order to create a single “bonded” connection that is many times more resilient and higherperforming at a fraction of the cost of a more expensive connection.

Let’s look at a hypothetical installation. Organizations can connect an SDWAN device to a remote PTZ camera system and the SD-WAN device will enable a live video feed and allow for control of the PTZ camera via the bonded Internet connection between the SD-WAN device field unit and the SD-WAN device server that is located at the organization’s primary data center.

The SD-WAN device server can be installed at any location with Internet connectivity such as the monitoring headquarters or a data center. Various field units can feed video to a command and control center that can control the pan, tilt and zoom controls remotely over the bonded connection. Most SD-WAN devices will accept an Ethernet or Wi-Fi feed from a PTZ camera, or PTZ camera gateway. This bonded IP tunnel between the PTZ camera(s) and the receive terminal transparently replaces the wired connectivity normally required for the PTZ camera.

Beyond the flexibility, some SD-WAN devices have the ability to consolidate multiple Internet streams together into a single “bonded” stream, thus increasing resiliency and performance while reducing the cost of the telecom networks required to connect these cameras. One can imagine the multiple security and law-enforcement applications where this kind of SD-WAN would be useful to an organization with budget issues in mind.

Beyond just physical security, this kind of flexible, resilient, and cost-effective network lends itself to almost any physical security application that relies on what we’ll term cyber-physical systems. A cyber-physical system (CPS) is a system of systems where there is a tight coupling between the computing component of the system and the physical components, underlying processes, and policies governing these systems.

This is an evolving area that is an important and distinct part of physical security infrastructure, but one we see growing every day with the rise of smart city infrastructure, smart homes with security services as a focus, and network-controlled security systems in enterprise environments, whether those run by the company itself or via a third-party security service provider. Physical security is already prevalent in almost all infrastructures, including transportation; chemical, water, and wastewater; healthcare; and energy. Now, network-based command and control systems are becoming the norm. And as a result, physical security organizations need to look to SD-WAN systems in order to ensure these new command and controls systems can be implemented in a way that gives them the best chance to succeed.

SD-WAN technology is just one of many points of continued convergence between IT security and physical security. The technology’s potential has almost all industry analysts bullish on its growth, with IDC predicting it will be a $6B market by 2020. For our future, it’s clear that we are moving toward “smart” infrastructures: smart power grid, smart buildings, smart bridges, smart cars, embedded medical devices, and robotic assistance for the elderly. All of these will require security solutions and those solutions will require connectivity that is flexible, cost-effective, and reliable. It seems that SD-WANs and physical security have a bright future together.

This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.