Open Options Hosts Consultants for First-Ever A&E Summit in Austin,Texas

Open Options Hosts Consultants for First-Ever A&E Summit in Austin, Texas

Open Options, a leading provider of open platform access control software, hosted the company’s first A&E Summit for security consultants in Austin, Texas this past weekend. I had the pleasure of attending the summit and getting a more in-depth look into the company and their product offerings.

The Open Options team planned a full weekend of networking, session speakers and open discussion. Announced at the event were new and improved products including new HD Series Enclosures, DController, Open Options’ IP-based intelligent door controller, and the new NSC-200 sub-controller, which now opens from the front and allows users to connect direct to hardware with strain relief fittings at the opening.

The company also did a full demonstration of its DNA Fusion software, which has intuitive features and a user-friendly UI. Open Options’ Professional Services/Engineering Manager William Murphey took the group of consultants through some exciting features such as customizable reports, mass edits of personnel access, direct commands, environmental customization and, my favorite, graphic maps.

Murphey explained how an organization can take advantage of graphic maps, which allows users to see their solution on one screen at a glance. This view gives users up-to-date information on open access points, data on users, and alarm status. DNA Fusion also integrates in a “Lockdown” button that efficiently works to facilitate a lockdown, locking doors immediately.

At the A&E Summit were several guest speakers, including Ian Kilpatrick with Kemper Development Company, who spoke about the Open Options integrations that span five city blocks in Lincoln Square in Seattle, Wash. The area includes hotels, corporate buildings and retail space. Kilpatrick explained how the company used Open Options to integrate in ThyssenKrupp for elevator features, such as Destination Dispatch and utilized DNA Fusion for custom reports that enabled auto email to a distribution list for analysis and archiving.

Also speaking at the Summit was Guy Grace, Director of Security & Emergency Planning at Littleton Public Schools in Colorado. Grace addressed the growing need for campus security and explained to consultants how he has used Open Options to develop a unified solution on his campuses. Grace stressed the need for protocols to correspond with security technology and spoke about the ease of use when working with DNA Fusion.

“Access control is the back bone of the entire physical security system,” Grace said when speaking about the importance of the Open Options solution and its many integrations. Grace and Littleton Public Schools specifically integrate in their access control, VMS, wearable panic devices and more into their DNA Fusion Software.

Chris Verde from National Instruments stressed the need for a unified solution on their corporate campuses all around the world, including six international campuses and six branch offices in the U.S. that all host thousands of readers and hundreds of controllers. National Instruments was able to take advantage of Open Options and their partnership with Mercury Security to develop exactly what they needed to keep their locations safe and secure.

Consultants and Open Options team members also spoke with each other in-depth about how they view the security industry, the biggest trends they see, the biggest problems they face and the frustrations they need help overcoming. While it is hard to solve all the security industry’s problems in just one day, this group got really close.

As I have always believed, a weekend with Open Options is a weekend well spent. Learn more about their solutions and products at www.ooaccess.com.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

New Products

  • 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.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.