As security professionals we need to be able to give our customers the correct information and the reasons why they can benefit from CCTV access control and some of the newer products on the market such as finger print door entry systems and facial recognition. one of the industries that has a real need for extensive security measures is aviation. In the light of the recent incident at East Midlands Airport, Freight forwarders as well as civil aviation companies are looking deeper into what they need to do to prevent a terrorist incident. Below we look at the procedure they should adopt in order to assess their risk and ensure the safety of their passengers and aircraft.

Threat.

What is the treat well this can be defined as the probability of an attack against a particular target that there is a probability that this will occur within a particular time frame.

Type of threat

This is broken down into 5 categories

Low- unlikely

Moderate- possible but not likely.

Substantial- strong possibility

Severe- an attack is highly likely

Critical- is expected imminently.

Once the above has been identified then we need to think about who may perpetrate such an attack.

Who poses a threat?

Terrorists- fanatics

Criminals- for ransom and financial gain

Mentally ill- this may happen for no reason and is likely to be a random event

Revenge- an ex employee is most likely to be behind such an attack.

Protesters-environmentalists have become more and more determined to get noticed and have upped the stakes.

Refuges- asylum seekers desperation is often a factor here

Insider threat- someone who deliberately joins an organisation in order to infiltrate and cause damage. The most dangerous.

In order to secure down an area we need to know what types of threat may occur. Integrated CCTV and access control systems become highly relevant at this point

Types of threat.

Hijacking/or sabotage

Substitution of air cargo

Disguising air cargo as another product.

An attack at the airport terminal itself.

Relevance of the treat.

The level of security needs to be directly related to the level of threat. However the base level of security in place helps to allow extra measures to be put in place when the treat rises. CCTV cameras allow security staff to monitor any perceived treat as they pass through a terminal and monitor any suspicious behaviour.

It is reassuring to know that within the aviation industry constant monitoring of security solutions are in place however as new technology comes along it’s the duty of security professional to bring this into the public domain. Facial recognition is unquestionably a fantastic tool for the future and at integrated CCTV we see this solution being deployed more and more where security needs to be tightly controlled

However things can go wrong and here is a demonstration of why everyone needs to be vigilant

The HRDP (DVR) is the new offering from Honeywell video that  uses H.264 video compression. The unit is being marketed boasting plenty of high end features that Honeywell hope will set it apart from other DVRs currently out there and they have pitched the unit at a very economical price in order to attract as much interest as possible.

With remote viewing from the comfort of your PC it is easy to record and save video evidence as well as download video onto CD or DVD and if you require, a portable memory stick. In order to save disk space the HRDP can be configured to to record motion detection at high quality at a rate of 200 IPS.

Remote viewing is achieved either using a PC or a web browser and privileges can be set up to ensure information can only be accessed by those with the correct authority.

Honeywell are aiming the HRDP DVR at a wide variety of clients mainly small to medium sized businesses such as retail, educational facilities and warehouse applications. With management able to view the images and recording from any remote location this helps to sell the concept to hard pressed mangers and directors who need to keep a close eye on their business operations. The search feature helps track down events that need reviewing.

The HRDP DVR is available in 4,8,or 16 way and has 4 audio inputs as well. A triplex operation means that no recording is lost even when the customer is retrieving video through the built in DVD burner and 2 USB ports. Mouse operation makes it easy to navigate the menu and PTZ control over the cameras is done through a number of default protocols that are contained within the unit.

Working on an embedded linux platform ensures stability and security and with the S.M.A.R.T self diagnoses the HRDP is continuously monitoring and reporting any discrepancies or faults that may occur meaning peace of mind for the end user.

SureView and Honeywell unite.

Honeywell are actively encouraging collaboration within the security industry as part of its drive to promote the Honeywell open technology alliance. The latest company to come on board is SureView the company behind Immix the central station management software.

The alliance suits both parties and the integration between Immix and WIN-PAK CS 4.1 means integrated access control now has an added level of security and allows other manufacturers equipment to be displayed to the operator through a single graphical interface. This means a response and full management of a an access control system is handled in just one location thus eliminating the need for an on-site guard with all the saving that this can bring.

The whole concept gives companies like SureView the opportunity  to offer their customers more choice when designing there security systems and to ensure integration between different products is made simple. In essence the software captures alerts and alarms from the on-site access control and seamlessly matches this to CCTV images from the cameras on site.

Any integration between access control and CCTV is welcomed and is certainly the way forward for the industry.

Pick up any trade magazine and they are awash with literally hundreds of CCTV Suppliers……..all professing to offer ex-stock supply of the latest and greatest products at the best possible priced!

But is this influx of supply simply diluting the industry and causing end user and integrator confusion?

I recall many years ago that there were 2 or 3 mainline suppliers – if you wanted CCTV you went to Norbain or CCTV Warehouse……….. and a couple of other more regional companies…………even the electrical wholesalers sold products that were sourced, in bulk, from companies such as Norbain.

Now, pick up a Farnell, or RS, or Maplin brochure and observe the availability of seemingly good quality cctv kit………visit B&Q and there, in the electrical section, you’ll find an external cctv camera complete with wireless connectivity to a regular TV!

Not to mention the huge amount of eBay stores now popping up offering Hong Kong and China’s latest number one DVR!

So, where does this leave the industry?

We think confused – how is it really possible to justify a £10k professionally installed system when the end user has ‘found’ a ‘perceivably’ equivalent system online?

We hear stories of end users buying cheap(er) kit and then ringing installers to ask for a price to install !!  As if it isn’t bad enough that the installer has to adapt to the ever changing supply of industry supplied kit!!

So, consider this – the distributors and manufacturers of our industry offer not only good quality kit, but provide a level of pre and post sales support that is simply not available from CCTV_Man from eBay, or from China’s number 1 DVR manufacturer……… we urge you to try and get one of their guys out on site on a cold December evening!!

It does not seem to matter where in the world you go, CCTV and Honeywell are inextricably linked. The Honeywell brand is one known to most and no more than in the UK. But when it comes to CCTV and security the brand seems to turn up everywhere. Honeywell India, Honeywell USA, Honeywell UK are huge markets for security and the Fusion DVR is right up there when it comes to recording,web based access and flexibility. With this in mind we suggest you check out the Fusion IV to see if this Hybrid DVR can take care of your security needs.