Geneva, 23 March 2020: FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease. 

The “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign promotes five key steps for people to follow to protect their health in line with WHO guidance, focused on hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling unwell. 

“FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “Be it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus, and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we will win.” 

“We need teamwork to combat the coronavirus,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first. I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting this campaign to pass the message even further. Some of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out COVID-19.” 

Twenty-eight players are involved in the video campaign, which is being published in 13 languages. 

Sami Al Jaber (KSA), Alisson Becker (BRA), Emre Belözoğlu (TUR), Jared Borgetti (MEX), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Sunil Chhetri (IND), Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Han Duan (CHN), Samuel Eto’o (CMR), Radamel Falcao (COL), Laura Georges (FRA), Valeri Karpin (RUS), Miroslav Klose (GER), Philipp Lahm (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Carli Lloyd (USA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mido (EGY), Michael Owen (ENG), Park Ji-sung (KOR) , Carles Puyol (ESP), Célia Šašić (GER), Asako Takakura (JPN), Yaya Touré (CIV), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG), Sun Wen (CHN) and Xavi Hernández (ESP).

A video campaign, which will be published on player and FIFA digital channels, is also being provided as individual localized files to the 211 FIFA member associations and media agencies, together with a graphics toolkit for implementation on social media to further pass the message. 

Hands:

“It starts with your hands,” says Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill ambassador for health promotion, Liverpool FC and Brazil goalkeeper, and The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, 2019. “Please wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based solution.”

Such frequent washing with soap and water, or preferably with an alcohol-based hand solution, kills viruses that may be on your hands. It is simple, but it is very important.

Elbows:

“Cover your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or tissue when you sneeze or cough,” says Carli Lloyd two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner from the United States. “Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.”

Droplets spread the coronavirus. By following respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from contracting viruses, such as cold, flu and coronavirus. 

Face:

“Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the virus from entering your body,” adds FC Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2019, and a multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.

Hands touch too many surfaces and can quickly pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your face, from where the virus can move inside your body, making you feel unwell. 

Distance:

“In terms of social interaction, take a step back,” says Han Duan, who represented China PR 188 times in an international career that spanned 11 years. “Stay at least one metre distance from others.”

By maintaining such social distancing, you are helping to avoid breathing in any droplets from someone who sneezes or coughs in close proximity. 

Feel – know your symptoms:

“If you feel unwell, stay home,” concludes Samuel Eto’o, former FC Barcelona and Cameroon striker, who represented his country 114 times. “Please follow all instructions provided by your local health authorities.”

If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. 

Keep informed as local health authorities provide the latest information on the situation in your area. Please follow their specific instructions, and call in advance to allow them to direct you to the appropriate local health facility. This serves to protect you and to help prevent the spread of virus and other infections. 

FIFA have also pledged $10 million to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO.

For more information, please consult @WHO and follow the latest information online. 

Credits to World Health Organization Newsroom

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We are honored to announce that we have recently signed an agreement to start working with Broward County on a new project to protect its residents and visitors through the installation of CCTV security cameras throughout different areas in the county. At the same time, Smartech will be providing service to the CCTV equipment that will provide live video and insights to the county safety departments to better protect different areas within the county cities.

We are working together with our technological partner Panasonic to assure the highest standard in security for the protection of the community in Broward county. We are committed to continue contributing to our security technology to help improve our community public safety.

For information about these new series network cameras, contact our office toll free number 800.866.0162 and request a free business consultation.

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According to new research* conducted by Genetec Inc. (“Genetec”), one of our technology partner of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence, as many as 68.4%—or almost 7 out of 10—cameras are currently running out of date firmware.  showed that outdated camera firmware, and failing to change default passwords present some of the biggest weaknesses in cybersecurity defence. As the number of interconnected security devices keeps on growing, keeping pace with the latest updates can be tricky and very time-consuming.

Installing the latest firmware is not just about accessing exciting new features, warns Genetec. It ensures the latest cybersecurity protection measures are implemented as soon as they become available, a crucial step in ensuring an organization’s resilience against cyber-attacks.

The research also showed that nearly 1 in 4 organizations (23%) fail to use unique passwords, relying instead on the same password across all cameras from the same manufacturer, leaving an easy point of entry for hackers once only one camera has been compromised.

Until recently, IP cameras came with default security settings, including admin login information that is often publicly available on the manufacturers’ websites. While most camera manufacturers now request users to set up a new password and admin credentials at installation, businesses, cities and government organizations with older equipment never updated their passwords, potentially compromising the other critical data and systems that reside on their network.

Credits to Genetec Newsroom

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Our technological partner updated its video management software VAST 2, several advanced user-centered functionalities will be unveiled. The new features include the Deep-Learning Technology Smart Search II, Cybersecurity Management Solution, and License Plate Recognition Integration. With this update, users can enjoy the intuitive interface of VAST 2 while achieving a higher level of management efficiency. 

Three new user-oriented benefits will be highlighted in VAST 2：

Smart Search II

Building on Deep-Learning Video Content Analytics, the Smart Search II of VAST 2 allows users to quickly search for specific objects and people in the specified region. While enabling People Detection feature, only people-based activities will serve as event triggers. The security operator no longer needs to search through extensive footage for critical videos, thus improving both efficiency and effectiveness.

Cybersecurity Management Solution

Offering the complete end-to-end cybersecurity protection, the new VAST 2 is fully integrated with VIVOTEK cameras and NVRs and becomes a powerful cybersecurity central management site. The protection includes Instant Alert Notifications, allowing users to receive notifications automatically, and the Cyber Risk Dashboard to visually identify common types of cyber-attacks. In addition, users can filter attack logs according to a range of criteria, making it quicker to find abnormal events and take necessary actions to minimize risks. 

License Plate Recognition Integration

Now, the new VAST 2 is fully integrated with VIVOTEK’s LPR/ Automatic Number-Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera, IB9387-LPR. Users can see the live images with selected information, such as confidence level or blacklist status, which can, in turn, become a trigger source in Alarm Management, making it easy to intelligently manage license plate data. 

Credits to Vivotek Communications Newsroom

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Our professional profile has grown and evolved over the last decade, and now it is time for a change. We have updated our logo to reflect who we are today and to symbolize our dynamic and innovative future.

Proud as we are of our rich history and deep roots, we retained the logo’s core elements, the word “security” was removed as it’s been a while since we do much more than just security systems. 

On the new logo, our name Smartech now on blue and grey background, highlights the meaning behind our name, Smart Technology. 

The word “Smart” stands for the knowledge of all our employees, partners and leaders in the industry of security and system integrations. The word “Technology” is self-explanatory, we are all about top of the line technology that will protect your employees, assets and improve your business operations through digital technology.

So thankful to our families, partners and supporters throughout all these years. And we are also very excited about the success and new business relationships ahead of us, the best is yet to come. 

Smartech Board of Directors.

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Visit a modern factory floor and you’ll see a hive of high-tech activity, as data-empowered workers manage dazzling arrays of precisely calibrated industrial machines.  

It’s a testament to the power of digital technologies to transform an entire industry. Yet it’s only the beginning of what’s to come for manufacturing.  

From AI and the Internet of Things to 3D printing and robotics, emerging technologies promise to drive Industry 4.0 to its fullest potential. 

However, for those technologies to enable a more productive, sustainable, and flexible future, the Internet itself will need to evolve — especially for high-speed, low-latency wireless connections. That’s where 5G and WiFi 6 come in. 

Right now, the automation environment in the factory is a very wired environment,” said Todd Gurela, chief technology officer for Cisco’s Industry Solutions Group. “That’s fine as long as the factory never has to flex production or migrate to doing different types of production.”

Next-gen wireless enters the manufacturing picture

By 2025, the number of connected IoT devices is expected to exceed 41 billion globally, and the majority of those will be wirelessly connected. For Industrial IoT, the vast increase in machine-to-machine and machine-to-human data will demand rock-solid wireless solutions. 

“When you look at the future of manufacturing, you look at generating a high density of data,” said Dr. Jay Lee, a professor of advanced manufacturing at the University of Cincinnati. “With 5G there’s a certain benefits criteria, which would be low latency and 20 times the speed. WiFi 6 also has a unique way to connect many things.”

In the next few years, the greater capacity of both technologies will be essentiall as the next generation of industrial devices and processes arrive, explained Stephen Goodman, a Cisco business development architect.  

“Historically on the plant floor, the types of devices that we’ve seen connected have been relatively low data rate, relatively low-speed devices,” he said “That’s changing as we move forward. We are going to get to a point where existing WiFi 5 technology is not going to be man enough for the job.”

With all that added complexity, it’s harder than ever to know just what’s happening in a factory. Next-gen wireless will enable a much deeper visibility into manufacturing processes, no matter how fast the factory is moving. 

“In high-speed applications,” said Lee, “you need continuous process management systems. Espeically for high-speed assembly, high-speed weldings, 3D printing, or a high-speed roll-to-roll process. In those areas certainly, [5G and WiFi 6] can play extremely well in manufacturing.”

Two cutting-edge solutions, each with unique strengths

WiFi 6 and 5G each excel in different ways, and manufacturers will need to decide which solution suits them best. Generally speaking, WiFi 6 will cover indoor situations while 5G, with its longer range between access points, will take on the outdoor connections. But there will be exceptions.  

“5G is really good at high bandwidth, it’s good at low latency and performance overall,” said Gurela. “But what it has challenged us with is penetration. These manufacturing facilities have a lot of metal structure, a lot of machines, a lot of challenges to really ensure that we can get the wireless signal to where it needs to be. So WiFi 6, right now, the characteristics of the radio itself has better penetration capabilities.”

In some instances, WiFi 6 will offer cost benefits and better control of the network.

“The enterprises themselves want to be able to manage that network, ensure security, and ensure who’s on that network with them,” said Gurela. “If you look at a service provider’s 5G, that’s a public domain.”

Other manufacturers may opt to build private 5G networks for their in-factory applications. Volkswagen, for example, acquired unused spectrum from the German government for 5G in some European plants.

In other situations, 5G will thrive with or without a private network. “There are 5G applications where you are going to be using just the service provider,” explained Vasko. “Applications like mining, or oil and gas, where you have large geographic areas and you’re trying to collect data.”  

Ultimately, the real strength may lie in the synergy between the two technologies, enabled by open-roaming. 

“There’s going to be an interaction between 5G over say a broader manufacturing campus,” added Gurela. “And then WiFi 6 within the four walls of the actual factory. We’ll see a combination of those things.”  

Fast factories, empowered workers, unlimited possibilities

Next-gen wireless is poised to connect critical applications in factories, while simplifying the management of the most complex systems.  

“Wireless, to date,” Polsonetti said, “has not been used in mission-critical applications in industry to any great extent. But now, between the technology and the management tools and the IOT, we envision that it’s all going to be able to be brought under one universal management umbrella.” 

Plant safety is one area where reliability and speed can mean life or death. 

Latency, Goodman stressed, is not a big issue for less critical applications “but if it’s, say, a safety curtain sending an emergency shutdown message to a piece of equipment, that’s not good. You’ve probably killed someone by that point.”

“No one at the moment,” he continued, “would want to use wireless for safety applications, because it’s just not deterministic enough for their needs. That’s going to change in the future.”

Outside the plant, 5g opens up enhanced possibilities for connected products, predictive maintenance, and precise visibility into supply chains (especially when combined with solutions like blockchain). 

“5G is the perfect technology for doing product traceability right across the globe,” said Goodman, “shipping, tracking, being able to really speed up some of the just-in-time processes that we see … so they know exactly where they are in transit.”

Blockchain, in concert with 5G and AI, could also confirm that parts are produced sustainably, and by people working under humane conditions. 

In a 5G world, visibility would extend to products once they leave the factory, by fully enabling solutions like predictive maintenance. An automobile, construction vehicle, or industrial machine, for example, could relay huge amounts of data back to manufacturers, parts suppliers, or repair shops — before big problems arise. 

On a factory floor, in particular, predictive maintenance cuts downtime dramatically. “When something breaks,” said Vasko, “it’s just so costly for most manufacturers to get it going again. That’s the one that has huge benefits right off, where we’ll see the biggest impact.”

Similar benefits will extend to consumers. 

“Vehicles would have continuous, reliable, secure, high-bandwidth coverage,” said Shaun Kirby, head of connected car product development at Cisco. “They would always be communicating relevant information to their manufacturers, to the ecosystem, whether it’s insurers or auto repair agencies or suppliers.”  

Such outcomes show the true potential of 5G and WiFi 6. By connecting people, machines, and data in ever-better ways they represent the next wave of the Internet — while contributing to a future that’s greener, more efficient, and highly innovative. 

Credits: Used with the permission of http://thenetwork.cisco.com/.

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Our technology partner Genetec, a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence unveiled its next generation mobile ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) system at IACP (Chicago, October 26-29 2019) on booth #5218. Powered by Intel® Movidius Myriad X VPU (Vision processing unit), the new Genetec AutoVu SharpZ3 is among the first specialized in-vehicle ALPR systems in the world to use Intel’s latest deep learning and computer vision technology. The deep learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable advanced levels of innovation in in-vehicle analytics, situational awareness, and accuracy.

“With the AutoVu SharpZ3, vehicle-based ALPR technology is about to enter a new phase in its evolution, made possible by Intel’s high-performance, low-power, deep learning VPU. By bringing powerful deep learning processing into the device itself, we are no longer limited by the constraints of traditional computer vision techniques or server post processing. The new AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable cities and law enforcement organizations to go far beyond simple license plate character recognition,” said Stephan Kaiser, General Manager of AutoVu at Genetec.

The AutoVu SharpZ3 system will not only be able to improve the accuracy of license plate reads in difficult environments (such as bad weather, heavy traffic, and fast speeds) but will also be able to instantly recognize additional analytics such as, vehicle type, color, and more.

With future releases, the deep learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 will enable cities to use their ALPR equipped vehicles to address other operational issues such as detecting unpermitted road construction, discovering abandoned e-scooters or bikes in unauthorized zones, and more.

“AI is driving a powerful digital transformation in cities around the world – enabling them to be more efficient, livable and secure for their citizens. By pushing AI-powered devices and solutions to the edge, forward-thinking companies like Genetec are fulfilling the true promise of IoT in smart cities,” said Jonathan Ballon, Intel vice president and general manager, Internet of Things Group.

The AutoVu SharpZ3 system also features three optical sensors in the camera to provide additional analytics such as the precise positioning of detected objects, and a modular chassis to allow users to easily add new functionalities in the field without the complication and costs of hardware replacement.

Credits to Genetec Newsroom

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AXIS Companion software delivers outstanding usability, real-time alerts and multi-user support. This easy-to-use video surveillance solution is optimized for small systems up to 16 cameras and delivers simple, secure and reliable video management. Alert notifications keep business owners aware of any suspicious activity and can be customized to suit the customer’s business needs.

The new, intuitive software includes 3 different levels of multi-user support (Administrator, Operator and Viewer) making it easy to ensure every user has access to what they need. For instance, it’s possible to grant administrators access to everything while only allowing other users to access things like PTZ control and video playback. Additionally, Axis Secure Remote Access technology allows users to access live or recorded video on a mobile device or PC without the need for network or router configuration. With Axis Remote System Management it’s possible to restart or upgrade devices and manage user permissions without being physically onsite and in many cases, resolve the issue right there on the spot.

Key features include:

• Real-time alert notifications
• Different levels of multi-user support
• Remote system management

This cost-effective solution is easy to setup, which helps reduce the cost of training and support. Furthermore, it helps increase speed and efficiency by eliminating lengthy waiting periods and reducing system downtime.

Credits to Axis Communications Newsroom

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It’s October and that means it’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCAM) again and time to recognize all the positive things that can be done to reduce risk. While there seems to be no shortage of events and ‘special’ days for cybersecurity, NCSAM stands as a somewhat differentiated occasion, thanks in no small part to its history. NCSAM has been an annual tradition since 2004 and was launched by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Over the last 15 years of NCSAM’s existence a lot has changed in cyber security landscape and a lot has stayed the same. Over that time, there has been no shortage of big data breaches, zero day vulnerabilities and new forms of attack that have impacted IT enterprises and consumers alike. Many cyber security stories (and more than a few written by yours truly) focus on the exploits and things that have gone wrong.  Just think about it, 15 years ago ransomware didn’t exist, and no one had ever heard of Business Email Compromise (BEC).

See also: “Security requires a cultural commitment” says Duo Security’s Dug Song

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported last month that between May 2018 and July 2019 there was a 100 percent increase in losses from BEC. Among the primary reasons for the spike is greater awareness and improved reporting. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to risk. By having heightened awareness around BEC, the risk can be accurately measured, and organizations can take steps to improve security. Moving beyond just awareness, law enforcement agencies are also playing a key role. On Sept. 10, the FBI along with partner agencies around the world shut down a global BEC campaign in an effort dubbed, Operation reWired, resulting in 281 arrests and the recovery of approximately $118 million.

Passwords

One of the primary areas of weakness in many IT systems and services are passwords. According to data cited by the Cisco/Cybersecurity Ventures 2019 Cybersecurity Almanac, the world will need to cyber protect 300 billion passwordsglobally by 2020.  That’s a whole lot of passwords.

Adding further insult to injury, given all the data breaches over the past decade, chances are that the majority of people reading this article will have had at least one account involved in a data breach, whether they know it, or not.

But it’s not all doom and gloom on the password front, because even though the risk is real, awareness and technology innovation has helped to move the needle.

Whereas 15 years ago it would have been challenging for any user to know if their password had been stolen, in 2019 it’s easy. Troy Hunt’s HaveIBeenPwned (which has been baked into other service including Mozilla’s Firefox Monitor), Google’s Password Checkup and others are among the multiple public resources available.  The fact that any user can find out if their password has been stolen is not about fear, it’s about awareness. If you know, something has been breached you can take steps.

Password managers were not un-heard of 15 years ago, but now are more powerful than ever and with the knowledge and awareness that passwords should not be re-used and need to be managed, adoption should grow. Another area of improvement in 2019 vs. 2004 is web encryption. The majority of web sites in 2004 did not use HTTPS by default, with sites requesting usernames and passwords from users without encryption – ie. sending user info in the clear. That’s another trend toward improvement – the widespread use of HTTPS, with more than half of global web traffic transmitted over HTTPs  since late 2017 according to Cisco’s 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report.

Risk reduction is also about defense in depth, which is another area where password security can arguably be better in 2019 than 2004. While there were users in large organization using two-factor authentication (often with token based key fobs), many (if not all) major online services for consumers and enterprise alike today offer multi-factor authentication options. Technologies like Cisco Duo are a key enabler of that transformation.

Another key transformation that has improved in recent years is the use of User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) technologies that leverage machine learning algorithm to spot abnormal behavior. That’s a technology category that simply did not exist in the same way 15 years ago.

Spam and Phishing

One thing that doesn’t seem to have changed much over the years is Spam. The latest data from Cisco Talos for September 2019 estimates that spam represents 86 percent of global email traffic volume. Spam is still a problem today as it was in 2004 and though there are great technologies for filtering, blocking and quarantining spam so the impact on enterprise users can be minimized, the volume of spam that clogs the arteries of the internet continues to proliferate. 

Phishing emails also continue to be a problem, but there is a spark of optimism there. The 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) reported that clickthrough rates  on phishing simulations dropped to only 3 percent, showing that awareness training is having a degree of impact. Cisco’s Email Cybersecurity Report: Click with Caution provide some solid guidance for defenders on how to deal with email security challenges.

Another big area for security improvement that needs to be recognized is the march toward improved privacy protection. To be fair privacy does not always equal security, but often the requirements of ensuring user privacy do require security controls. The Cisco 2019 Data Privacy Benchmark Study for example found widespread evidence that data privacy effort are being adopted by companies, yielding better business outcomes overall.

Cloud

Among the biggest shifts in the IT landscape over the past decade has been the move to the cloud. The standard joke is cloud is really just someone else’s server, but when it comes to security it’s a game changer and one that didn’t exist when NCSAM got started. By routing traffic through a cloud proxy or security service (Cisco’s Umbrella is one such example), security can now be delivered in a way that can make people safer.  

The emergence of bug bounties and managed programs that easily enable researchers to report issues is another big win for security in recent years. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to bugs. Bugs are a reality and by incentivizing and enabling a broader community to participate in the process there is the potential for better security.

Overall, while there will for the foreseeable future be a constant stream of reports on data breaches and new exploits, it is important to also be aware that there is innovation and technologies that can help to empower organizations to be more prepared. While security is still an obvious concern in 2019, there are many things that have improved, helping IT users in organizations of all sizes reduce risk.

We live in an area where attacks can and do come from anywhere, that’s not something to be afraid of, but rather something to be aware of and be prepared for.

Used with the permission of http://thenetwork.cisco.com/

The post Security, by the numbers. The sky isn’t falling appeared first on Smartech Security.

BUSINESS FIELD

Backed by strong edge devices, advanced image analysis technologies and AI, with a history of more than 60 years of technical innovation and pursuit of quality, a thorough “visualization” of information has been achieved that previously could not grasped. Linking that information to the customer’s work flow contributes to building a safety infrastructure in a variety of worksites, from manufacturing, financing, and medicine to retail, service, and public institutions.

SOLUTION

This new business unit will provide the development, manufacture, and sales of devices and modules for the security, medicine, and industrial fields, in addition to the solutions including system integration, construction, maintenance, and related services.

Credits to Panasonic I-PRO Sensing Solutions Newsroom

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