Data as a Decisionmaker

The best way to make any decision is by collecting as much data as possible. The more information you have, the better your decision will be.

Ajay Jain, president of Quantum Secure, points out in our cover story that security decisions are based on data. The more you have, the better the decisions. However, Jain points out that is not always the case, in part, because of the amount of data being collected by an increasing number of devises.

“More than 95 percent of alarms are false,” Jain said. “We tend to respond slowly because there is a good chance that the alarm isn’t valid.”

I think you will find Jain’s comments and analysis very interesting. Consider this: “The patterns or trends that result from analyzing the data help identify certain predictors that could indicate that an incident may occur.”

This could be huge, considering the amount of data that is stolen year after year. Insider threats are increasingly prevalent, and some statistics reveal that insider threats are responsible for nearly half of all security breaches.

Also inside, one of our freelance writers interviewed Tom Galvin, president of Razberi Technologies, who addressed questions about IP networking. He said networking has been around for a long time, but for the security industry, its lifespace has been about a decade.

Galvin takes no credit for investing IP networking, megapixel cameras or an NVR, but what they have put together is a way to combine all these things into a simplified package. Razberi Technologies has been able to take the complexity of IP networking and put the technology into simplified form factors. This helps the security integrator do their job at a lower cost.

How is this all completed?

“Razberi has brought the market the concept of a distributed architecture where they have the server in a distributed environment and closer out to the edge; a practice that has not been done as much with the industry move to centralization,” said Reinier Tuinzing, strategic alliance manager at Milestone Systems, America.

From this partnership, Milestone Systems has been able to pull the information collected on the ServerSwitch back to an operation center and make the entire network function.

This article originally appeared in the February 2015 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • 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

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.