Page 32 - Security Today, April 2022

Bringing Out the Best Integrated video surveillance and access control are part of today’s trend
By Adam Lowenstein
Recent physical security trends are all about mitigat- ing today’s risks using high- ly integrated, open-source technology. Now, more than ever, security practitioners require compre- hensive, multi-faceted solutions that can quickly pivot to meet new challenges.
The rapid growth of internet of things (IoT) devices residing on physical security networks, along with the growing demand for automated return-to-work solutions, is driving end-users’ demand for higher lev- els of systems integration.
This seems particularly true regarding integrated video surveillance and access control management solutions that re- quire traditional security and workforce management applications be tied into building health-safety environments.
MODERN PROBLEMS REQUIRE INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
There are several pressing life-safety is- sues that all seem to be competing for at- tention in today’s market. News headlines are dominated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, sporadic natural disaster events, and a rise in retail thefts and gener- al crimes. Then there are the ever-present threats of workplace and school violence and structural fires. These problems have a ripple effect on business operations, lead- ing to disruptions like supply chain delays and labor shortages.
To combat these modern problems, organizations require a comprehensive security solution that addresses multiple threats while also being easy to manage. As demand for these new technologies continues to grow, systems manufacturers are developing new open platform solu- tions to better accommodate the influx of new software applications, conventional endpoint devices and IoT products.
This cyclical process benefits both se- curity practitioners and the industry as a whole as solutions that focus more closely on real-world problems and challenges are brought to market. These open platform solutions also effectively close the gap
between disparate security solutions, al- lowing organizations to manage multiple system technologies on a unified platform.
A prime example of this is the inte- gration of video surveillance and access control management. The integration of these systems is often necessary to capital- ize on new solutions that require a unified platform. Separately, video surveillance and access control systems have long been providing mission-critical security and health-safety protection.
When combined, they bring out the best in each other, providing security pro- fessionals and business administrators with improved functions that aid in crisis and emergency event management. In a fire or other potentially dangerous situ- ation, integrated video surveillance and access-control systems deliver real-time information on the conditions in affected areas, individuals in need of immediate at- tention, evacuation proceedings and more.
When video surveillance is further en- hanced with intelligent video analytics, the system’s capabilities advance further. Using powerful artificial intelligence (AI) technol- ogy and smart solutions, like facial recogni- tion, can be deployed on a system-wide or selective basis for a wide range of physical security, access control, workforce manage- ment and health/safety applications.
This is already being done at some of
the world’s most secure locations for opt- in applications, such as TSA clearance, or to locate missing or wanted individuals. To address the need for personal privacy, software applications like video redaction provide the perfect complement to facial recognition.
Also, consider safe return-to-work processes and compliance mandates that many organizations are grappling with due to the ongoing pandemic. Integrated video surveillance and access control can help with these challenges too.
For example, access control can track an employee’s movements throughout a fa- cility while video surveillance can identify who the employee has come into contact with. In the case of contact tracing, the employee, and all those they encountered, can then take the required steps to prop- erly quarantine and/or get tested to reduce the spread of infection within a workplace. Furthermore, video analytics can detect if visitors and employees are not complying with proper health-safety guidelines.
OPEN-SOURCE SOLUTIONS ENABLE GREATER SYSTEM CAPABILITIES
For end-users, the benefits of using inte- grated solutions go beyond added life- safety protection. Open platform devices can be integrated quickly and cost-effec-
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