Editors Note

Engaging a Rapid Response

There is more than one reason why emergency vehicles have lights and sirens. Several years ago, there was a campaign by the Ohio state fire marshal which was, “Move right for lights and sirens.” This makes a lot of sense, allowing emergency response to get where they need to be with minimum interference.

Today, there is much more involved than lights and sirens. Back then, there was no such thing as cloud storage. Today, cloud applications are meaningful and necessary for government applications.

Our cover story in this issue is from Nicholas Maier or RedSky, and he talks about the necessity of finding ways to improve response times. Taking a step back, the government created the 911 system. That was back in 1968. Today, a new standard is part of emergency response, and it resides in the cloud.

The cloud is key because there is text 911, video streaming of 911 events, dynamic geo-spatial routing of 911 calls, all of which require a new architecture. The call routing will be routed by cloud-based applications, which is important because when a caller rings up 911, a database will capture the location of the caller, and it will appear on the emergency dispatcher’s screen. This is a great story that will help explain real-time emergency response.

Our Lindsay Page spent some time with ASSA ABLOY’s Jeff Huggins to better understand and provide information on how to grow your business. Doing business with the government can be challenging, but never fear, there are experts who have done this successfully for years.

Huggins, who was interviewed for this story, will walk you, the reader, through the GSA letter of supply, and how it will benefit you if you want to be a government supplier. Huggins and his team of two others staff members are relatively new to the ASSA ABLOY group, but clearly understand numerous solutions that apply to the government, and will benefit the manufacturer.

Also important to government security is city security, and how the Hartford, Conn., Police Department (HPD) established its Real-time Crime Center and Data Intelligence Center. As seen all too often lately, keeping a handle on crime and criminal activities in the city is a difficult task. How did they pay for it? HPD used various grants and other available monies, all of which you can help an end-user find and secure.

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Creating More Versatility

    Today, AI has become top of mind for most security professionals. It is the topic of conversation in the technology world and continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. Read Now

  • Report: 78 Percent of CISOs Seeing Significant Impact from AI-Powered Cyber Threats

    Darktrace recently unveiled its 2025 State of AI Cybersecurity report. The findings reveal that 78% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) surveyed say that AI-powered threats are having a significant impact on their organizations, a 5% increase1 from 2024. While an increasing number of CISOs report feeling a significant impact from AI threats, more than 60% now say that they are adequately prepared to defend against these threats, an increase of nearly 15% year-over-year. However, insufficient AI knowledge and skills and a shortage of personnel and talent continue to be listed as the two top inhibitors to a successful defense. Read Now

  • Teaching AI New Tricks

    You have probably heard that AI-enabled security cameras are evolving the role of traditional surveillance cameras, shifting the focus from passive monitoring to active problem-solving and operational insights. AI technology changes fast, so what is new can be considered only news in just a few months. Read Now

  • From the Most Visible to the Less Apparent

    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) states “There are 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, and national public health or safety or any combination thereof.” Read Now

New Products

  • Hanwha QNO-7012R

    Hanwha QNO-7012R

    The Q Series cameras are equipped with an Open Platform chipset for easy and seamless integration with third-party systems and solutions, and analog video output (CVBS) support for easy camera positioning during installation. A suite of on-board intelligent video analytics covers tampering, directional/virtual line detection, defocus detection, enter/exit, and motion detection.

  • 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.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.