Top Stories


Allied Universal Security Professional Frederick Tucker Honored for Life-Saving Actions During Library Shooting

Frederick Tucker, Allied Universal security professional, has been honored with the 2023 Ralph Day Memorial Security Officer Heroism Award for his life-saving actions during a shooting at the Nashville Metro Public Library. The award is the highest recognition a security officer can receive for an act of heroism.

Teaching Old Dogs, New Tricks

After more than 30 years in the security integration business, today’s video surveillance systems are certainly not the same CCTV systems I sold and installed when I first started hanging cameras. Back in the day, there were only a handful of companies out there and one that started with a “P” stood above the rest. If you were fortunate enough to get invited to travel on their private jet out to California to tour the factory, it was a real honor. I have a picture somewhere in my garage collecting dust, of me sitting in the co-pilot seat. I know, old-man highlights, but still very cool.

Learning to be a Strategic Skeptic: Promoting Critical Thinking, Digital Literacy

Research from the National Skills coalition (NSC) suggests that 92% of today’s jobs require digital skills. It’s frankly hard to believe that figure isn’t at 100 percent. Businesses of all kinds are significantly impacted by applications that manage all sorts of transactions internally and externally. The capture, storage, and use of data is prolific across all industries—and subject to increased risk of unauthorized access and cybersecurity breaches.

Why Communication is Key in an Emergency

During an emergency, communication with the outside world can be a critical component when it comes to response time and saving lives. Emergency communications typically consist of alerts and warnings; directives about evacuating the premises; information about response status, and other matters that can impact response and recovery.

PureTech Expands Integrated Solutions with Axis Communications

PureTech Systems, a provider of geospatial AI-boosted video analytics for perimeter and border security, is excited to announce the expansion of their perimeter solutions by further integrating with Axis Communications products. The most recent integration combines PureTech's patented video analytics with the detection capabilities of the Axis Communications D2110-VE security radar.

ISC East Announce Keynote Speakers and Education Track for 2024 Conference

ISC East, with its premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with the ASIS NYC Chapter, announced this year’s slate of speakers that will headline the Keynote Series at The Bridge, ISC East’s mainstage destination.

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Level Lock

ASSA ABLOY has acquired Level Lock, a technology solutions business based in Redwood City, California.

Trust But Verify

Today’s world is built on software—whether it is third-party applications, open-source libraries, in-house developed tools, operating systems, containers or firmware. Organizations worldwide depend on these diverse software components to power their operations, connect with customers, and drive innovation. However, this reliance on software comes with hidden dangers: the blind trust placed in these software products. Many companies assume that the software they purchase, and use is secure and free from vulnerabilities, but recent high-profile software supply chain breaches have proven otherwise. The reality is that every piece of software, no matter how reputable the source, increases the organization’s attack surface and poses new risks.



Impact on Digital Transformation

A 2023 Statista report projects that by 2030 there will be 30 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices in use. That is three times as many as there were in 2020. The numbers continue to grow because connecting sensors and systems, especially across a business, promises big efficiency gains and new insights. As such, the IoT and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) have become a launching pad for digital transformation -- not only for individual organizations but for entire industries.

Genetec Expands Security Center SaaS With Launch of Operations Center

Genetec Inc. today announced the launch of Operations Center, a cloud-based work management solution designed specifically for physical security operations. Available as part of Security Center SaaS, or as a standalone product, this new solution is specifically designed for security operations professionals and will revolutionize the way physical security teams collaborate, communicate, and manage their tasks.

Optimizing Security and Business Performance with Clarity and Control

In recent years, the security sector has experienced a significant influx of innovative technologies that have fundamentally transformed how organizations design, implement, and oversee their security programs. The widespread adoption of cloud-based infrastructure, edge processing, and AI or machine learning (ML) driven analytics has brought about revolutionary changes in applications such as access control, video surveillance and emerging areas like threat detection and drone identification.

Research: 12 Percent of CISOs Faced Budget Reductions in 2024

IANS Research and Artico Search recently unveiled the 2024 Security Budget Benchmark Report, offering critical insights into the state of security budgets and staffing amidst a backdrop of global economic challenges. This comprehensive study compiled findings from the fifth annual CISO Compensation and Budget Research Survey, including responses gathered from over 750 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) between April and August 2024. The report indicates a cautious yet necessary expansion in security spending.

Father of Georgia School Shooting Suspect Charged in Connection With Attack

Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect, has also been charged in connection with the attack. The 54-year-old father was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. More charges are expected.

Address Evolving Threats

Event season is well underway, with organizations across industries hosting bustling customer conferences, flagship brand events and exclusive meetups for their top VIPs. As security leaders’ partner with events teams, and brand leaders ensure the safety of all attendees, there is a major consideration they must plan for: The upcoming election.

Enhancing Security and Business Intelligence

From border security to parking lots, ALPR has gained traction across multiple use cases as the technology becomes more accurate and affordable than ever. I spoke with Jason Cook, business development director at Vaxtor, a leader in ALPR AI-based analytics, and Rui Barbosa, category manager, Surveillance Products at i-PRO, a maker of AI-enabled security cameras, to delve into the latest advancements and applications of ALPR technology. Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) has transformed significantly over the years, evolving from a niche technology into a powerful tool for a wide range of applications, particularly in border security.

Leveraging Smart Sensors

The integration of smart sensors with data-driven video technology provides schools with a comprehensive solution to enhance safety and security. This combination offers advanced capabilities such as environmental monitoring, audio analytics, vape detection and unified data management, empowering schools to create a secure and healthy learning environment for students and staff.

4 Killed, 9 Injured at Georgia High School Shooting

Four people were killed and nine were hospitalized after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday. That’s according to CNN.

Scam Sites at Scale: LLMs Fueling a GenAI Criminal Revolution

Cybercrime groups, like other businesses, can create more content in less time using GenAI tools. Over the last 6 months, Netcraft identified threat actors using these technologies across a range of attacks, from innovating advance fee-fraud to spamming out the crypto space. In total, our observations show LLM-generated text being used across a variety of the 100+ attack types we cover, with tens of thousands of sites showing these indicators.

Unlocking the End-user Perception

An observation as a creator of identity verification solutions is that while industry leaders are often excited by the opportunity to leverage biometrics, there are often concerns raised about the end-user mindset during the conversation. Primarily, what are end-users’ expectations of biometric technology? What concerns might they have about its usage to authenticate and protect their access?

Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

The Importance of Proactive Security Measures: 4 Stories of Regret

We all want to believe that crime won’t happen to us. So, some business owners hope for the best and put proactive security measures on the back burner, because other things like growth, attracting new customers, and meeting deadlines all seem more pressing.

FAST Launches “Talent for Tomorrow” Fundraiser in Conjunction With Workforce Development Month

The Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) is excited to announce the launch of its Talent for Tomorrow fundraiser, coinciding with Workforce Development Month. Throughout September, FAST aims to raise $10,000 to support its mission of attracting, training and retaining new talent within the security industry. This initiative is held in partnership with the Security Industry Association (SIA) and the Electronic Security Association (ESA).

Report Shows a 56 Percent Increase in Active Ransomware Groups in First Half of 2024

Searchlight Cyber has released its latest report, revealing key ransomware trends for the first half of 2024. Ransomware in H1 2024: Trends from the Dark Web showcases how the ransomware scene has shifted since the release of its annual ransomware report 2024 at the start of the year. The report offers key insights drawn from dark web intelligence to help organizations bolster their defenses against emerging threats.

5 Reasons for Outsourcing Your SOC

The cyber threat landscape is constantly changing, so now more than ever, it is important for your business to have a technologically advanced Security Operations Centre (SOC).

SEC Awards Three Collegiate Scholarships for 2024-2025

The Security Executive Council has awarded three $2,500 scholarships to students of excellence at its partner academic institutions, which are recognized for their outstanding programs in security, risk, and intelligence.

Building the NaaS Experience: Connect, Innovate, Transform at MEF’s Global Event

MEF’s Global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) event (GNE) in Dallas, Texas 28-30 October brings together the entire NaaS ecosystem to discuss the vision of a new generation of NaaS and provide a snapshot of the industry for service providers, technology vendors, wholesale providers, retail providers, hyperscalers, system integrators and of course, the end-user enterprise community.

The Importance of Power Generation Utilities

Power generation plants are critical infrastructure for providing electricity to local communities. Generating electric energy requires a vast array of equipment, including massive generators, turbines, boilers and transformers. They also have a large footprint with multiple buildings and worksites, often occupying hundreds of acres.

Sharp as a Hawkeye

The security engineering services team at the University of Iowa recently underwent a process that many institutions of higher education face – integrating innovative technology with its existing security system, specifically with key management solutions. Understandably, they were hesitant at first and ran into challenges. Still, when they identified the correct technology to communicate with their existing ecosystem, the immediate results necessitated expanded adoption.

ZeroEyes and Raptor Technologies Partner to Protect Against Gun-Related Violence with Emergency Alert System

ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Designation, and Raptor Technologies, the leading provider of school safety software, today announced their system technology integration partnership to enhance emergency response and school safety. The companies unveiled their first joint customer, Angleton Independent School District (ISD), which has successfully adopted ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection and situational awareness software integrated directly with the Raptor Alert silent panic alert technology systems.

Creating Value for Security Integrators

In recent years, we have seen an influx of security systems integrators getting on the recurring monthly revenue (RMR) bandwagon post-pandemic. During this time, the security industry has experienced a high demand for as-a-service offerings, not only from customers, but on the integration side.

Into the Breach: Why Employees Remain the Achilles Heel

The past half decade has seen culture and flexibility springboard to the top of employees’ priority lists. As a recent survey conducted by job site Monster shows, 26% of U.S. workers would alarmingly rather get a root canal than work in the office five days a week, while 38% stated that they would consider quitting their jobs if they were told that they had to work in the office just one day a week.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

Webinars

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. 3

  • 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. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3