Top Stories


The True Cost Of 4K

High definition (HD) and megapixel camera technology continues to evolve, and now 4K is emerging as the latest advancement to video surveillance imaging for security applications.

The New Landscape

The New Landscape

It used to be when attending a trade show that one came away with a tote bag full of printed marketing materials. This practice started to change when CDs and thumb drives were introduced to present these materials.

Confidence In A Secure Classroom

Confidence In A Secure Classroom

Dancing Moose turned to Stone Security of Salt Lake City to design and install the state-of-the-art, integrated monitoring and security system.

The New Standard

The New Standard

As the Internet of Things becomes more prevalent in today’s world, smart locks and access control systems are at the heart of the revolution.

In Your Line of Sight

Terrorist attacks have forever changed the way we think about security.

Large Hospital Security: Technical and Physical Challenges

Large Hospital Security: Technical and Physical Challenges

Large hospital environments present unique challenges for a surveillance integrator. Specifically, these challenges can include implementing IP surveillance technology, access control, or networking.

Patent Trolls Up to No Good

There are troubling, albeit legal, shenanigans going on not only in the security industry but in several other industries, as well.

Hospital Campus Secure

Hospital Campus Secure

University Hospital, the teaching hospital of San Antonio’s University Health Systems is a sprawling campus in the South Texas Medical Center, and one of the health system’s 23 locations across the community that needed the latest security technology.



Court-Ordered Keys

The comings and goings of judges, inmates, attorneys, law enforcement, maintenance staff and others pose a number of safety concerns for courthouses.

Honoring a Great Man and His Legacy

At SIA Honors Night, the Security Industry Association (SIA) will honor the late Frank De Fina, former senior director of strategic sales for Hikvision USA Inc., with the 2015 Lippert Award posthumously.

Verint Unveils Next Evolution in Situation Management

Verint Systems Inc. today announced enhancements to its Verint Situational Awareness Platform™, including the incorporation of advanced solutions to help organizations gain comprehensive situational awareness while driving rapid incident response and enhanced field communications.

Trade Show Trends Emerge at ASIS 2015

At all trade shows, there tends to be overall trends within the security industry that emerge from visiting the various exhibitor booths and this year's ASIS is no exception. The following are the top three trends from the show room floor.

Offering Trade Show Attendees More

IDIS and 360 Vision Complete Integration of DirectIP and Predator HD Cameras

IDIS announced at ASIS 2015 that is has completed the successful integration of its DirectIP™ network video recorders (NVRs) with 360 Vision Technology's Predator HD cameras. Suitable for a variety of applications, the Predator line of full-HD cameras feature up to 574 ft of infrared (IR) illumination and up to 492-ft of ultra-bright white LEDs to provide outstanding night time surveillance in both monochrome and true color.

A Different Kind of Tradeshow

From my 20 years' experience attending ASIS, I have always found it to be a different kind of tradeshow. Years ago everyone wore a suit, and it seemed like a pretty formal affair. Something has changed.

Panasonic Unveils Smart Coding Technology to Reduce Video Surveillance Bandwidth and Storage

Panasonic, a leading provider of integrated security and video surveillance solutions, has released Smart Coding, a new technology that enhances the encoding algorithm in standard H.264 video streams, yielding up to a 70 percent improvement in bandwidth reduction.

Lenel, AlertEnterprise Announce Strategic Alliance to Resell Physical Identity and Access Management Software

Lenel and AlertEnterprise today announced an alliance to resell AlertEnterprise's Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software to support an advanced PIAM and compliance solution. Lenel is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

Baseball and Security at ASIS 2015

I had the pleasure of attending last night's Angel's baseball game with Altronix and LRG here in hot, muggy California. The air-conditioned suite at the stadium was a much-appreciated detail. As I heard the crack of the bat, the cheer of the crowd and the buzz of conversations that were going around me, I couldn't help but notice how baseball and security are related.

Axis Introduces Video Analytics with AXIS Guard Suite

Axis announces AXIS Guard Suite, a series of robust video analytics applications that quickly turn Axis network cameras into smart security systems, allowing a more pro-active approach to video surveillance.

Companies End-user and Dealer Focused at ASIS 2015

The goal was to hit the showroom floor running, so I started off day one of ASIS 2015 with a power breakfast of steel-cut oats with raisins and brown sugar, whole wheat toast and, of course, java juice!

Making Sense of a Monday Start

Kicking off a tradeshow on Monday seems a little bit strange to me, and apparently many others who were at the show. It certainly doesn't diminish the quality of product exhibits, though it seems that a lot of attendees might have used Monday as a travel day to California.

Morse Watchmans ASIS 2015 Product Line up Demonstrates Leadership and Innovation

Visitors have opportunity to see, touch and hear about latest product introductions and enhancements to flagship system.

Dortronics Emergency Pull Stations Offer Multi-purpose Functionality

Ideal for hospitals, schools and industrial facilities with a variety of door access systems.

Paxton to Preview New Building Intelligence System at ASIS

Out-of-the-box access control, IP video management and building automation streamlines management of buildings.

Top 10 Things to Do at ASIS 2015

With more than 600 companies showcasing their latest security-related offerings at ASIS 2015 and more than 20,000 attendees, there won't be a lack of things to do and see. Here are my top 10 suggestions to make this ASIS your best one yet

New Samsung NVRs Feature Built in PoE/PoE+ Switches

Plug-and-play recorders reduce equipment and installation costs.

Reseller Partners Increase Profitability with Project Registration Program from Arecont Vision

Provides reseller partners with escalated support, price protection and high margins.

Samsung Adds New Open Platform Application Partners

New integration expands flexibility and value of WiseNet III camera apps.

Altronix Unveils New Compact eBridge EoC Adapters at ASIS 2015

Small footprint eBridge100ST delivers long-range transmission without repeaters.

Making Sense of ASIS

I'm am anxious to see what's happening on the ASIS show floor, but to get to that first day, I toured the Paramount Pictures control center. The tour was courtesy of Paramount and SureView Systems.

Featured

  • 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

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • 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.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities