Security industry professionals seem to hold differing opinions on whether video surveillance or access control is the predominant platform when implementing an integrated security solution. Truth of the matter is that access control systems are more prevalent in terms of the sheer number of systems deployed, the size and scale of deployments and actual daily engagement by users. And for good reason! When a potentially threatening event unfolds, an access control system can instantly shut down a facility, or specific areas within it, potentially saving lives.

There is no doubt that access control technology is progressing and evolving at the fastest pace ever in the security industry.  And the need for enhanced security due to new sources of threats, increased liability and even mandated compliance has made more funds available to public and private entities to enhance security. As a result, more and more money has been allocated in recent years to help keep unwanted people from entering facilities..

The Foundation for Layered Security

Access control solutions provide the basis for layered security solutions that do far more than simply allow electronic access using credentials.  They provide complete record of who has entered a facility, which areas within the facility they accessed (or attempted to access) and how long they stayed. In most systems, electronic door locks are connected to a centralized access control system allowing them to be remotely monitored and locked in the event of an emergency or incident. Assigning different access permissions for employees, visitors and first responders provides even greater levels of protection and tracking. Entry control points can be easily established to only allow authorized individuals initial access to a facility or specific areas within the facility.

Access control solutions allow authorized individuals to manage doors and alarm points, and can easily be integrated with visitor management solutions to check the background of each visitor, automatically post watch lists and provide specific access privileges based on time, date and location.

Even more, new input/output (I/O) boards for access control systems can expand functionality and provide real-time operations for speed, performance and reliability.  Using the same footprint, I/O expansion boards will work with alarm monitoring, alarm annunciation, building management, interfacing to burglar and fire panels and numerous other applications to ensure security. Additional safeguards to control entry points may include the integration of turnstiles or security entrances, mantraps, video surveillance with analytics, wireless locks, intercoms and intrusion detection devices, among others.

When an emergency situation arises due to a tripped alarm, a watch list match or severe weather alert, system-wide communication is essential in facilities with large numbers of occupants. Additional information such as room condition and the status of its occupants helps quickly evaluate a situation and determine the most appropriate response to initiate including the need to lockdown all entry points, seek shelter-in-place or evacuate. The real-time situational awareness provided through an integrated emergency notification and communications solution is proven to enhance provide better levels of protection and improve overall physical security.

For example, a layered security system comprised of integrated access control and emergency notification and communication solutions allows occupants to report on immediate conditions to identify the threat level in their specific locations, and trigger a physical lockdown in the affected areas or throughout the facility.  Security management can then issue an alert to notify responders of conditions in real time while communicating status based on the level of the alert.

Conversely, occupants within the facility can report status at their specific location enabling security management and first responders to gain an accurate assessment of the threat. Employing a chat feature also enables two-way communications between facility occupants and security management and first responders to exchange detailed information. This enables potentially lifesaving instructions to be sent to specific locations within the facility to evacuate or seek shelter in place depending on the immediate status and proximity of the potential threat.

In emergency situations, integrated access control and emergency notification and communication solutions deliver the ability to quickly secure a facility and implement the appropriate responses – with or without the added data provided from video surveillance. 

The best approach to implementing a layered security solution should always start with access control at the foundation.

A number of revolutionary inventions in the automotive industry and large-scale production of affordable automobiles led to a large number of vehicles along the roads. However, with the rise in the automobile production and consumption, automobile security concerns have conjointly raised. Apart from cost and quality measures, security and safety of a vehicle are also being considered of prime importance for its owner. People are now looking for a foolproof mechanism in their vehicles for growing car theft issues. However, having the knowledge of the vehicle’s whereabouts increases its chances of retrieval by many folds even after being stolen.

To keep the knowledge about all the happenings associated with the vehicle, equipping the vehicle with a vehicle tracking is a good idea. Vehicle tracking devices are invaluable tools for monitoring a single or even an entire fleet of vehicles.

How it works

Vehicle tracking is generally achieved through an installed tracking hardware which records the speed, location and the direction of the vehicle. The tracking data is sent back to the user and then transformed into useful information via various mapping software applications and reporting tools. This information can be utilized by the owner to view the vehicle movement and related information

Types

Based on the functionality, vehicle tracking systems are categorized as active and passive systems. A passive system doesn’t provide the real-time information, but rather stores data like GPS location, speed and heading on the tracking unit. This data is fetched for evaluation once the vehicle returns to a preset location. Passive vehicle tracking is generally used to verify driver activity such as route verification, billing, etc. An active tracking system is used to track more than one vehicle through the internet in real-time. It also provides the same data, but transmit it in real-time through satellite or cellular networks to a computer or data center. Some tracking systems have both active and passive tracking facilities. A person should analyze his/her needs before deciding on a passive or active tracking.

The application areas

The vehicles are tracked commonly by commercial fleet operators to manage a fleet of vehicles and meet customer needs more efficiently. Fleet management functions such as dispatching, routing and security are accomplished by tracking vehicles. Urban transit agencies use this system for monitoring schedule of buses and for activating recorded announcements. The behavior of the driver can also be monitored by this system. Vehicle tracking is also used as a theft prevention and stolen vehicle recovery. It can serve as an addition or alternative for traditional car alarm

Through a tracking device, vehicles can also be tracked for monitoring the fuel and to calculate the distance traveled by the vehicle.

C losed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems have made tremendous technological progress in the last decade, not only in individual capabilities, but also in the ability to interface with other security technology.

There are three primary ways to use CCTV systems, industry experts say: as a deterrent, for forensic purposes and as an interdictive device.

Originally, CCTV surveillance systems were simply a deterrent. The notion that “Big Brother” was watching was often enough to keep people from misbehaving. Today, though, CCTV surveillance systems are common enough that they have lost their novelty, reducing effectiveness as a simple deterrent, especially for illegal entry or violent crime.

Evolving Uses of CCTV Surveillance Systems

As recording and storing technologies and software such as video analytics have became more efficient, CCTV surveillance systems have evolved into a forensic tool — that is, collecting evidence after an event has occurred.

But as CCTV surveillance systems become more easily integrated with monitoring devices, alarm systems and access control devices, a third use of CCTV is gaining momentum: Helping security personnel to identify and interrupt security breaches as they’re occurring, or even before they take place.