The announcement came after reviewing the current travel conditions and the importance of staying connected and is significantly expanding its digital initiatives to make it easier for customers and partners to stay connected and informed over the coming months. Following the success of Genetec Connect’DX, the Genetec virtual trade show and conference, the company is planning a similar event in the fall. Genetec is also ramping up its education programs with the immediate online availability of its entire technical curriculum, including instructor-led classes, bespoke training, and self-paced learning options. Genetec also announced it would significantly reduce attendance at major in-person trade shows, conventions and conferences for the rest of the year.

“The whole Genetec team is motivated and engaged to help the people who put their trust in us,” said Pierre Racz, President of Genetec, Inc. “These initiatives are about doing the right thing for our customers, our employees, and the industry as a whole. While we are all keen to get back on the road and interact with our customers and colleagues in person, I would much rather lose business than put a single customer or employee at risk.”

Connect’DX, the Genetec Digital Experience 
Over 8,200 industry professionals from all over the world registered for Connect’DX. Each of the 4,750 attendees who participated in the event spent an average of 9 hours each attending expert panels, educational sessions and product demos, and visiting partners’ booths, leading to a total of 20,057 unique presentation views and 22,426 booth visits. Over 40 hours of content from Connect’DX is now available on demand from the registration page, for existing registrants, and the post show registration page for newcomers. 

Building on the success of its first virtual trade show, Genetec is planning another Connect’DX event this fall. An invitation-only gathering, it will be targeted at partners, consultants and end users. The company is also announcing a bi-weekly podcast that will explore the everyday challenges of managing and improving security, operations and intelligence with a practical look at real-world solutions and best practices. More information on both initiatives will follow in the coming weeks. 

“We are presented with a significant opportunity to reassess our in-person events model and think in nontraditional ways,” said Andrew Elvish, Vice President of Marketing at Genetec. “Looking ahead, we will be putting the emphasis on our signature in-person events such as our Connect series, and in the near term focusing on digital experiences that deliver a high level of engagement without having to travel. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from everyone who participated in our first digital experience, Connect’DX, clearly demonstrates that the physical security industry is ready to embrace new ways of connecting, networking and learning.” 

Online training and certification 
To ensure continued access to its training and certification classes in spite of the current travel restrictions, Genetec is making its entire course curriculum and instructor-led classes available online, leveraging the latest learning technologies. In the last 6 weeks, the Genetec education team has already remotely trained over 900 professionals and is ramping up its schedule of offerings with live training courses across all time zones while also offering opportunities for self-paced learning. Bespoke training is now also available online with a dedicated instructor. 

To learn more about this news release or our Smartech technology available for the present COVID-19 virus and many other security technologies that we offer, call us at our toll-free number: (800) 866-0162

Credits to GENETEC Newsroom

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When the first N95 masks rolled off the production line this week, there was a brief acknowledgment amongst the team at Honeywell’s Smithfield, Rhode Island facility.

“Everyone was excited and eager to help with this cause,” said Conor Ryan, plant director. “We clapped at the accomplishment, then got back to making them.”

The manufacturing plant typically makes safety glasses and face shields has been configured to also produce the in-demand masks.

The setup usually takes about nine months, but was completed in five weeks to meet the urgent need of frontline workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

The masks will be delivered to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Strategic National Stockpile to support health, safety and emergency response workers.

In addition to the Rhode Island site, N95 manufacturing will start at an aerospace facility in Phoenix, Arizona in mid-May. Once both sites are fully operational, they will produce more than 20 million masks per month. The two new lines will create more than 1,000 jobs in the U.S.

To support the fight against COVID-19, Honeywell is increasing production of other personal protective equipment, including safety eyewear and face shields. They also make sensors used in ventilators and are providing testing services to ventilator manufacturers.

Credits to Honeywell Newsroom

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Change in routines can create new opportunities for hackers

As they increasingly log on from home, Americans are having to meld their personal technology with professional tools at unprecedented scale. For employers, the concern isn’t just about capacity, but also about workers introducing new potential vulnerabilities into their routine — whether that’s weak passwords on personal computers, poorly secured home WiFi routers, or a family member’s device passing along a computer virus.”All it takes is one of their kids to get [electronically] infected and it spreads inside the house,” said Marcus Sachs, a former vice president for national security policy at Verizon. From there, experts say, malware could easily jump from a compromised employee’s machine into a connected office network. Experts recommend brushing up on digital hygiene and safety tips as opportunistic criminals seek to exploit the coronavirus crisis. According to the Seattle-based information security company DomainTools, hackers are increasingly creating coronavirus-related websites, apps and tracking tools meant to lure those who are simply seeking information — but which actually spread malicious software that can lock your device.

A big test for government computer systems

Meanwhile federal officials, many of whom are already overloaded as they scramble to coordinate the government’s response to the coronavirus, are increasingly being asked to log on remotely. In 2017, just over a third of federal employees teleworked, according to US government statistics. Over half did not, either because they weren’t approved for it or because their job requires that they be physically present.

This year, those numbers may shift dramatically.”I’m sure every agency right now is scrambling to load-test their VPNs and access points to make sure not just 10 or 20 percent of their workforce can log on, but 70 or 80 or 90 percent,” said the former chief information officer of a major US agency. “That will be a challenge, for sure.”Not all government agencies use VPNs exclusively anymore. As online storage and computing platforms have taken hold in corporate America, so too have they spread in government IT systems. Now, it’s more common to see civil servants logging into cloud-based applications and services from wherever they are.In 2014, for example, the Federal Communications Commission began transitioning to virtual desktops. That technology allows employees to do their jobs remotely from a digital workstation that exists purely online. All they need to do is log in, and it’s as if they’re sitting at their usual desks.Experts note there are a significant number of Americans who will have a problem with telework because they lack a good internet connection at home. At least 25 million Americans, possibly more, do not have broadband at home, according to federal studies. Others may not have access to office computing devices that they can take home with them — either because they were never expected to work remotely, or perhaps because their work may be extremely sensitive.

How the intelligence community is adapting

Among the federal workers most hamstrung by efforts to reduce their presence in the workplace are members of the intelligence community. Working on topics and systems that are classified makes it difficult at best to work from home, if not impossible.”There are some very senior military and government officials who have the capability to do up to Secret [work] from their house, but we’re talking about four-star generals and admirals and things like that,” said Jamie Barnett, a retired US Navy rear admiral and senior vice president of government services for the secure communications firm RigNet. “For other classified work, there’s going to be limited facilities to be able to do that,” Barnett added, “so that’s going to take some grappling.”Agencies have already enacted safety measures and made leave policies more flexible. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence — which oversees 16 different intelligence agencies — says it is “reducing staff contact88 through a variety of options including staggered shifts, flexible schedules, and social distancing practices.”In a business that demands 24/7 attention, the agencies “are also developing and implementing appropriate response plans” an ODNI spokesperson added.

Dealing with COVID-19, however, “is a contingency for which the IC never prepared,” said former National Intelligence Council chairman Greg Treverton.Some who work in intelligence are contractors who, due to contract provisions, must physically report to a government facility and do their jobs under direct oversight, said the former CIO. It’s possible those contracts may be reinterpreted in light of the coronavirus crisis, he said.Intelligence officials certainly have technology and practices that would make them among the most digitally secure to work outside the office, but they’re still exposed. In the best of times, for example, intelligence officials can’t even bring their mobile phones into the workplace, recognizing the security risk that they are.Working at home, “you get more vulnerable and you get much less efficient because you’re being careful,” adds Treverton, who said that for the country at large, the security issues associated with teleworking are an “enormous vulnerability.”Still, the rise of cloud computing means many workplaces are in a much better position for telework than they were even a few years ago.”If this had happened five years ago, I would guess that a very, very large percentage of government employees would not be able to remotely access their systems or do anything from home,” said Gordon Bitko, a former FBI chief information officer. “Today, that’s definitely not true. I can’t speak to every agency, but it’s far, far greater than it was.”

Credits to CNN Business Newsroom

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Today’s public safety agencies are required to do more than react to situations-in-progress. In response to our communities’ evolving realities, public safety agencies must take a proactive approach to develop strategies for managing everyday operations, public events, and emergencies.

As part of Broward County public safety strategy we initiated the CCTV project with some initial installations of security cameras in Brian Piccolo Sports Park in Cooper City.  These are all part of a massive project that Smartech is leading in many public areas of the county to support the public safety initiative that will enhance the overall safety of Broward communities and its citizens. 

To learn more about Smartech public safety solutions and CCTV services call us at our toll free number: (800) 866-0162

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AI: separating facts from fiction

While artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a household term, it’s far from being a household reality. While machines are making huge steps forward, they are not capable of thinking or acting like humans. What they are really good at, however, is combing through a huge amount of data to provide deeper insights to help humans make informed decisions more quickly and efficiently. In 2020, we can expect machine learning to continue to make huge strides in the security sector, helping cities and law enforcement deploy their physical resources more efficiently based on predicted trends in crime. Machine learning will also be instrumental in helping Automated License Plate Recognition systems become better than ever at reading characters, rejecting bad reads, recognizing a license plate’s state of origin and more.

Facial recognition and privacy

While some people see the deployment of facial recognition or other analytics that can identify individuals and track their movements as a powerful way to enhance efficiency and security, others see it as invasive. As we move into 2020, developers will need to work hand in hand with regulating bodies, while continuing to improve the technology to eliminate biases. Developing solutions using a privacy-by-design approach will help reduce concerns and increase protection.

Physical identity management

Organizations of all sizes need to control access to their spaces and facilities. However, companies that do not have the budget to invest in costly customized applications have to rely on untraceable processes that involve a lot of human interactions to grant and then revoke access to their secured spaces and facilities. Keeping track of access on an individual basis requires a great deal of time and energy from security operators, personnel, and visitors.

Fortunately, in 2020, the proliferation of out-of-the-box solutions will result in more small and mid-sized organizations moving to cloud-based identity management systems that they can implement easily. These more affordable Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) solutions will help organizations secure their systems and facilities by effectively managing access requests based on an individual’s identity and an organization’s security policies. They can also ensure that only those individuals who have the right to access a secured area can do so by managing and automating the process.

Improving data protection with blockchain

While blockchain is typically associated with cryptocurrency, it’s increasingly being used in other sectors. Essentially, it’s a non-destructive way to track data changes over time. When used in security technology, blockchain can prevent tampering with video and access control evidence as well as identity management systems. Because of its capacity to track interactions with digital files, blockchain can determine if a file has been tampered with, and then provide information about where and when the tampering occurred. This is incredibly powerful when it comes to maintaining the chain of custody and ensuring that security data has not been manipulated.

We’re already seeing it being used by enterprise-level, global organizations that are looking for a technology to underpin their security systems. As the benefits of blockchain become more widely recognized, others will also start using it to protect the integrity of both their operational and security data.

Continued focus on cybersecurity

Cybersecurity will continue to be a huge issue for the physical security industry in 2020. As companies collect more data, they’re going to have more data to protect. Today, governing bodies and responsible manufacturers are already working in partnership with academic researchers, technology experts, civil rights advocates and industry leaders to regulate the use of potentially invasive technology, and the procedures required to safeguard against data breaches. These partnerships will only strengthen in 2020.

In addition to helping guide regulations, manufacturers will need to invest heavily in cybersecurity by building protections into their products by default. For all involved, the goal will be to promote security while protecting individual privacy and civil liberties. Only if done correctly, we will be able to have both at the same time.

About Smartech

Smartech is a progressive technology company with a broad solutions portfolio that encompasses security, intelligence, and operations. Smartech’s flagship services are focus on Critical Infrastructure, Public Safety and Retail Solutions. Smartech also designed and implemented thousands of security system solutions and network integrations in a variety of sectors, including commercial, industrial and government environments. Founded in 2010, and headquartered in Miami, Florida, U.S., Smartech serves its global customers via an extensive network of integrators, certified channel partners, and consultants throughout the Americas.

Credits to Genetec Newsroom

The post Top physical security trends predictions for 2020 appeared first on Smartech Security.

Vidsys Enterprise Mobile provides enterprise-level situational awareness using real-time live and recorded video playback from compatible integrated video management systems. Users are able to access up-to-date information from mission-critical security devices and systems anytime, anywhere, using the app on any compatible iOS or Android device.

“It’s vital that the increasingly mobile workforce has access to tools that enable them to quickly and efficiently respond to critical events,” said Vidsys President, Maurice Singleton. “Anyone who works in security knows that threats don’t adhere to a 9-5 schedule, so monitoring and defending against malicious actors requires 24/7 connectivity. With the launch of Vidsys Enterprise Mobile, users are able to promptly respond and investigate within the app, giving them peace of mind when on the go.”

Key Features of the App Include:

• Ability to stream live and recorded video from multiple Video Management Systems (VMS)
• Multiple camera display layouts
• Pan, tilt and zoom controls
• Video playback controls
• Option to save in-app snapshots directly to camera roll
• Support for active directory and local Vidsys users
• Support for native multi-app split screen
• Supports Wi-Fi, GSM and VPN connections

Credits to Vidsys Newsroom

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Public and Private Test Servers

Ubiquiti Speedtest provides a global network of test servers with growing density. The network consists of Ubiquiti servers and privately hosted servers. Service providers, businesses, and private users can host public or private test endpoints.

By hosting their own test server, service providers will be better able to troubleshoot customers’ connectivity issues. In addition, employees and IT staff will get more accurate results even at higher speeds, and tests may be performed between multiple locations. Service providers also benefit from brand visibility, as the provider name is always visible in the test window and WiFiman app.

Setting Up a Test Server is Easy

To set up a test server, you need the following:

• Linux server or VM: Ubuntu is our recommendation. Required CPU capacity is low. 
• Stable full duplex 1 Gbps internet connection for public hosting. For rural and limited internet infrastructure areas, slower connections may be acceptable.
• Static public IP address.
• Go to https://speed-admin.ui.com/ for easy setup.
• The Docker image is updated automatically after setup.

For creating your test endpoint, just run the installer on your server. You only need to provide your company name and company webpage address.

Multiple Ways to Run Tests

Tests may run over LAN, Wi-Fi, or mobile networks. Ubiquiti Speedtest uses Ubiquiti test endpoints and provides automated and manual test target selection. The automated selection uses a combination of geolocation and latency measurements for determining the best servers. The algorithm may use several parallel endpoints for the best measurement accuracy.

Users may run tests anywhere with a browser at: http://speed.ui.com/ 

By using the UniFi Network Controller, enterprises may run automated scheduled speed tests between their sites. UniFi Controller offers statistics for performance and network capacity.

The Ubiquiti WiFiman app includes embedded speed test capabilities. In addition, WiFiman includes a simple connectivity dashboard for identifying the reason for a connectivity issue. 

Credits to Ubiquiti Newsroom

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Our Technological partner announced yesterday August 8 that it is now offering multiple FICAM-(Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management) certified options for its Security Center Synergis access control system. In a market that has been traditionally weighed down by limited solutions that are often proprietary, these new options offer nonproprietary, open-architecture choices to efficiently validate Personal Identity verification (PIV and PIV-I) for federal employees and contractors.

“Older physical security technology no longer meets federal standards or complies with the latest regulations, that’s why government agencies are looking to modernize their operations. By unifying all systems in the Security Center Synergis platform, security teams can better mitigate risks, increase operator efficiency and reduce cybersecurity efforts all while remaining compliant with the latest FIPS standards” said Justin Himelberger, Enterprise Systems Business Development Manager-Federal & DOD at Genetec.

Genetec offers two FICAM-certified options:

1. Onboard authentication using Mercury LP4502 controller: Ideal for new installations, this option is an efficient and cost-effective approach to achieving FIPS 201 compliancy. By embedding pivCLASS authentication firmware into a Mercury LP4502 controller, users reduce their hardware expenditure and benefit from a speedy authentication process.
2. Authentication using HID PAM: Ideal for retrofits, customers can upgrade their existing systems by adding a dedicated pivCLASS Authentication Module (PAM) from HID to their installation.
   

Smartech and Genetec have been working as partners in different projects and we are pleased say that Genetec is one of our strong technological partners that allow us to offer first class security solutions in the marketplace.

Credits to Genetec Newsroom

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If you are worried that a robot will take over your job, rest easy. For now, robots are more likely to help recruit you and keep you at work, as firms seek to use high-tech tools to deal with a battle for human talent.

With SkillsUSA claiming “the skills gap in the United States is a growing crisis for our nation,” and many other countries also feeling the pinch when it comes to talent, execs are having to get smarter about finding and holding onto the right people. In the past, they may have been able to get away with gimmicks like an in-house gym or beanbags on the top floor.

“These can be great, but what if you hate the gym? What if you work from a desktop and cannot make use of the beanbags?” says Thomas Davies, founder and CEO of Temporall and a leader in organizational analytics. Today, the trick is to shelve these one-size-fits-all treats and look to connect each worker with the things that matter most to them. And this is where tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning come in. Davies says more than 90 percent of human resources experts believe there is a link between employee experience and company performance. “However, focusing on employee engagement alone won’t entirely attribute to what your employees are engaged in,” he says.

Workplace culture, on the other hand, goes deeper, giving insight into how employees behave and make decisions, data that can be vital during times of change. A good workplace culture which is aligned to business strategy has a significant impact on company performance and will also produce high levels of employee engagement and retention, Davies says.

Furthermore, says Mattias Hallberg at Attuned, part of Tokyo-based exec search firm Wahl & Case, not knowing what makes your workers tick could be a problem even if you think nothing is wrong. While many firms look for self-starters, he says, a good worker will often look for a reason to get started. If the spark isn’t there, they won’t gripe. They’ll just leave. Unlike factors such as pay, what excites workers about their jobs are often “things that people might not complain about,” Hallberg says. If you cannot work out what these factors are, you could be left with a lot of dead wood, Hallberg notes. “People with very low motivation are not the people leaving,” he says.

At its most basic, IT systems can help improve how workers feel about their jobs by taking away some of the hassle of the workplace. If, for instance, you have to wade through reams of red tape just to take some time off, then maybe a chatbot can help guide you through the process. Indeed, for tasks such as this, “a key trend we see for 2019 is a more blended approach towards using a voice interface with text,” says Cathal McGloin, CEO of conversational AI platform company ServisBOT.

More deeply, artificial intelligence “can aid people leaders to anticipate people’s needs and create and sustain a personalized experience,” says Fractal Analytics Chief People Officer Raj Aradhyula. Software could do this, for instance, by getting rid of bias in hiring, to give people a fairer shot at a job. Or by flagging up problems that new hires may seem to have when they come on board. Or giving leaders key data to help build better teams.

A further step is for IT systems to take care of tasks that might numb most workers’ brains. Then workers can “focus on higher-value tasks, which still require human problem-solving skills,” says Ben Stoneham, founder of Autologyx, which provides process automation software and solutions. With so many ways to boost the way you feel at work you may wonder why it is that IT systems aren’t bringing more joy to your job today. The reason is that the human resources sector has so far been slow at picking up on what tools such as machine learning can offer.

Partly this is because of cost and partly because of a fear of losing “the human touch,” says Susie Turpin, director at talent mapping and research firm Wilbury Stratton, which has looked at how bosses are looking to embrace tech tools to find and hold onto staff. One of the findings of the research, she says, is that in places where such tools are used execs have found it is key to engage even more with people, not less. Despite the slow uptake, though, experts see such tools having an ever-greater role in human resources.

“This topic is not going to fade away any time soon,” says Marc Greggains, head of sales at the IT firm Cascade HR. And the need to get IT tools to delve into what makes workers tick might force the software to become a little more like us, says Priscilla Coates, change consultant and co-founder of Magma Digital. “Artificial intelligence is arguably going to become more human, to encourage us to interact,” she says.

Credits and content used with the permission of newsroom.cisco.com

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Advancing its stellar track-record ofintelligence, security and cyber-threat information sharing, our technology partner Cisco continues to engage in thought-leadership revolving around the state of global cybersecurity. In recently launching its Cisco Cybersecurity Report Series, Cisco has brought under a single banner, leading threat researchers and innovators in the security industry to provide a wide variety of research-based and data-driven publications geared towards professionals with varying interests. In its recent Threat Report and CISO Benchmark Study, both included in the 2019 series, Cisco reveals damning evidence on the rise of cyberthreats delivered via email.

First making its malevolent appearance in 1978, spam has been inundating inboxes around the world, employing phishing tactics and malware to wreak havoc on people and businesses. By relying on botnets and bulk email toolkits, today, email is being cited as the #1 vector for the distribution of these threats. Indeed, at least one third of all email that passes through Cisco’s email security appliances are blocked outright and never reach their intended recipients, aka victims, and that is by conservative estimates!

See also: Cybersecurity sees huge market growth in 2018

Some of the most common and destructive phishing applications rely on the high prevalence of the G-Suite on the Cloud and its email offerings via Gmail. Microsoft copycats mimic Office 365, and BEC (Business Email Compromise) email fraud masquerades as c-suite superior communications delivering fake instructions to unknowing employees. In 2018 alone, the latter tactic resulted in $1.3 billion in losses to industry!

The tentacles of organized crime and individual fraudsters are far reaching and are infiltrating a wide variety of areas that are as plentiful as they are crafty. Digital extortionists defraud businesses and individuals alike with dirty scams to coerce users into making payments, oftentimes using Bitcoin. There are Facebook groups that peddle bulk email tools that are intended for fraudulent use, and phishing through promises of intimate meetings, employment opportunities, or the acquisition of expensive or hard to find pharmaceuticals. The list goes on and on.

With up to 56 percent of CISOs reporting that email is their highest security concern, even ahead of the Cloud and mobile device use, a recent CISO study indicates that the use of email security systems and protocols are in decline. Further study reveals that one reason for this imbalance may be because of growing reliance on the Cloud, up to 80 percent by Cisco’s reports, which seems to promote a false sense of security. Businesses inaccurately assume that the Cloud provides robust security at the base level, whereas in fact the Cloud’s basic security provision is only single-tiered. The Cisco report calls attention to this and recommends a multi-level and pronged approach to cybersecurity both on and off the Cloud that includes, among other tactics: multi-factor authentication, regularly scheduled phishing simulations, the consistent updating of browsers and plug-ins, caution with log-in requests, the verification of authenticity, and the implementation of a dual signature protocol for all financial transactions, especially those made online.

While sounding the alarm on the increasing threats posed by email threats, Cisco’s Cybersecurity Report Series also provides solutions, and covers a variety of other related topics as well. To read through the complete reports cited and more that will be posted in the coming weeks and months, please check out the entire security report. This is truly a one-stop information shop for anyone interested in up-to-date information and the state of global cybersecurity.

We are grateful to have a Cisco as one of our strong technological partners.

Credits and content used with the permission of newsroom.cisco.com

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