Tyco Security Products Government Expert Named to Steering Committee

  • Jan 13, 2015

Tyco Security Products announced that Stafford Mahfouz, Manager of the Government and Department of Defense Vertical for Tyco Security Products, has been elected to the Smart Card Alliance’s Access Control Council steering committee for 2015-2016 as a representative of physical access control product and services providers. The Smart Card Alliance, of which the Council is a part, is a non-profit, worldwide association of smart card issuers and adopters that works to foster understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

In representing Tyco Security Products on the Access Control Council steering committee, Mahfouz will help shape physical access control smart card technology in concert with other committee and Smart Card Alliance representatives. In his role as manager of Government and Department of Defense products at Tyco Security Products, Mahfouz has collaborated with federal, state and local governments in integrating required credentialing with physical and logical access control systems. Mahfouz is also a former Smart Card Alliance board member.

“Election to the committee provides an opportunity to engage in broad discussions of what industry standards should be and how to evaluate and improve best practices within access control,” said Mahfouz. “My election to the Smart Alliance’s Access Control Council steering committee also means I’ll be able to share Tyco Security Products’ philosophy with a larger audience — an ethos centered on the notion that technology should be adapted to meet the customer’s needs, not vice versa.”

The Smart Card Alliance has six member-driven industry and technology councils that are focused groups within the overall structure of the Alliance, including the Access Control Council. The Access Control Council, which is governed by the steering committee, works to stimulate the use of smart card technology by developing white papers on best practices, serving as a resource to governments and users, and collaborating with other industry organizations to influence standards and develop best practices.

The Smart Card Alliance is a non-profit, worldwide association of smart card issuers and adopters, comprised of members from the financial, enterprise, healthcare, retail, telecommunications, government and transportation industries that works to foster understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

The Alliance has more than 200 members worldwide and invests in education with regards to the use of technology for identification, payment and other applications. In addition, the Alliance strongly advocates the use of smart card technology that respects privacy while enhancing data security and integrity.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • 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.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”