Software Defined

Wide-area networking comes to physical security

As physical security technology continues to advance in both complexity and capability, it is increasingly bumping into and being influenced by other technology segments. Cyber security technologies are the first that come to mind, but recently, another true networking technology trend has arisen that is impacting physical security implementations of all kinds. Known as Software-Defined Wide Area Networking or SD-WAN, this connectivity technology is making physical security implementations easier, more flexible, more cost-effective and more reliable than ever before.

SD-WAN technology itself is an offshoot of Software-Defined Networking or SDN. Originally designed for highperformance data centers, SDN is a means of virtualizing important network functions as applications on commodity servers, thus giving IT a major boost in cost, complexity, and flexibility when building new infrastructure. Those same benefits have now grown beyond the data center to Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as well as branch offices in the form of SD-WAN.

WANs are generally used to connect branch offices to a central corporate network or connect data centers together across distance. A SD-WAN moves the “configuration” of these networks into the cloud for IT to manage remotely and brings programmability to the IP connectivity. By doing so, this allows for remotely manageable devices to be installed at these “branch office” or remote locations, thus reducing the need for onsite expertise or management. Having the ability for the WAN links to adapt and work around to any network problems further simplifies the management and operation of the WAN network. This complete package makes for a very flexible and cost-effective means of connecting lots of geographically remote sites together in a cost-effective manner.

So how does this connect to physical security? Let’s start with the most obvious application for where this might be useful: video surveillance. Just think of the number of instances where a large organization has myriad sites, all with multiple cameras at a single site that require monitoring. Even with a single site that is large enough for several dozen cameras would be able to make use of an SD-WAN network. In the simplest terms, these SD-WAN devices will connect all cameras to a cloud network, enabling the organization to monitor all feeds from a single location, while also eliminating the need for a wired network connection. Not only does this consolidate the resources required for monitoring, but it also makes camera placement much more flexible, reaching locations unavailable with a physical wired feed. While wireless cameras are already seeing a great deal of deployment, SD-WANs are different in that they can bond multiple low-cast Internet connections together in order to create a single “bonded” connection that is many times more resilient and higherperforming at a fraction of the cost of a more expensive connection.

Let’s look at a hypothetical installation. Organizations can connect an SDWAN device to a remote PTZ camera system and the SD-WAN device will enable a live video feed and allow for control of the PTZ camera via the bonded Internet connection between the SD-WAN device field unit and the SD-WAN device server that is located at the organization’s primary data center.

The SD-WAN device server can be installed at any location with Internet connectivity such as the monitoring headquarters or a data center. Various field units can feed video to a command and control center that can control the pan, tilt and zoom controls remotely over the bonded connection. Most SD-WAN devices will accept an Ethernet or Wi-Fi feed from a PTZ camera, or PTZ camera gateway. This bonded IP tunnel between the PTZ camera(s) and the receive terminal transparently replaces the wired connectivity normally required for the PTZ camera.

Beyond the flexibility, some SD-WAN devices have the ability to consolidate multiple Internet streams together into a single “bonded” stream, thus increasing resiliency and performance while reducing the cost of the telecom networks required to connect these cameras. One can imagine the multiple security and law-enforcement applications where this kind of SD-WAN would be useful to an organization with budget issues in mind.

Beyond just physical security, this kind of flexible, resilient, and cost-effective network lends itself to almost any physical security application that relies on what we’ll term cyber-physical systems. A cyber-physical system (CPS) is a system of systems where there is a tight coupling between the computing component of the system and the physical components, underlying processes, and policies governing these systems.

This is an evolving area that is an important and distinct part of physical security infrastructure, but one we see growing every day with the rise of smart city infrastructure, smart homes with security services as a focus, and network-controlled security systems in enterprise environments, whether those run by the company itself or via a third-party security service provider. Physical security is already prevalent in almost all infrastructures, including transportation; chemical, water, and wastewater; healthcare; and energy. Now, network-based command and control systems are becoming the norm. And as a result, physical security organizations need to look to SD-WAN systems in order to ensure these new command and controls systems can be implemented in a way that gives them the best chance to succeed.

SD-WAN technology is just one of many points of continued convergence between IT security and physical security. The technology’s potential has almost all industry analysts bullish on its growth, with IDC predicting it will be a $6B market by 2020. For our future, it’s clear that we are moving toward “smart” infrastructures: smart power grid, smart buildings, smart bridges, smart cars, embedded medical devices, and robotic assistance for the elderly. All of these will require security solutions and those solutions will require connectivity that is flexible, cost-effective, and reliable. It seems that SD-WANs and physical security have a bright future together.

This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • It's Show Time

    I am one of those people that likes to see things get bigger and better. As advertised, ISC West is going to be bigger (more exhibitors) and better (more attendees). It’s show time in Las Vegas. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • SIA Releases New Report on Operational Security Technology

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has released an impactful new resource – Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST. Read Now

  • Cyber Overconfidence Is Leaving Your Organization Vulnerable

    The increased sophistication of cyber threats pumped by the relentless use of AI and machine learning brings forth record-breaking statistics. Cyberattacks grew 44% YoY in 2024, with a weekly average of 1,673 cyberattacks per organization. While organizations up their security game to help thwart these attacks, a critical question remains: Can employees identify a threat when they come across one? A Confidence Gap survey reveals that 86% of employees feel confident in their ability to identify phishing attempts. But things are not as rosy as they appear; the more significant part of the report finds this confidence misplaced. Read Now

  • Mission 500 Debuts Refreshed Identity Ahead of Security 5K/2K at ISC West

    Mission 500, the security industry’s nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting children in need across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, has unveiled a refreshed brand identity ahead of ISC West. The charity’s new look includes a modernized logo with refined messaging to reinforce Mission 500’s nearly decade-long commitment to serving the needs of children and families in crisis. Read Now

    • Industry Events

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • 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.

  • 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.