Industry News January 2006
BUSINESS NEWS
Security, crime, and terrorism are on the minds of the people of Europe, according to a Eurobarometer survey. When asked what should be priorities for the European Union, respondents ranked security as number three (after reducing unemployment and combating poverty), fighting organized crime and drug trafficking as number four, and countering terrorism as number seven. All three security-related topics have dropped from three to eight percentage points when compared to the previous fall, as concerns about unemployment and poverty have increased.
Nearly one-third of those polled listed security as a top priority, and percentages were even higher for residents of Finland, Denmark, Germany, and Hungary. Fighting organized crime was a higher priority than security in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Lithuania, Cyprus, and Estonia. Respondents in Turkey and Spain ranked terrorism as a greater concern than security or crime; and residents of the United Kingdom rated terrorism higher than security, but lower than crime.
Another finding of the survey is that a large majority (77 percent) of respondents is in favor of a common security and defense policy, as well as a common foreign policy (67 percent).
The survey was conducted by TNS Opinion and Social, a consortium between Taylor Nelson Sofres and EOS Gallup Europe, at the request of the European Commission, Directorate-General Press and Communication. Results are based on nearly 30,000 face-to-face interviews, with approximately 1,000 interviews each for most countries.
PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS
ADT Security Services Inc. has been selected by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals to provide an integrated RFID solution for tracking prescription drug products from manufacturer to retailer.
Allixon International Corporation has signed an educational-industrial cooperation agreement with Logistics Information Technology to enhance RFID business in the Korean and global markets.
Andrews International will continue to provide contract security services, including consulting and investigative support, to Sony Pictures Entertainment following a contract renewal.
Avery Dennison Worldwide Office Products Group has announced that AMAG Technology will integrate Avery Photo ID Badge Templates into its access control software.
DICE Corporation and Interface Security Systems are working together to develop a central monitoring facility for Sunoco Inc.
A DVTel Inc. network video management system is being used by the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma in its Tulsa Creek Nation Casino.
IBM, Red Hat, and Trusted Computer Solutions are working together to develop a secure Linux operating platform that meets government standards for assured information sharing across government agencies.
ImageWare has signed a patent license agreement with Boston Equities Corporation to employ its digital imaging technology for video and Web conferencing.
Information Security in Academic Institutions has joined forces with DShield.org to create a distributed intrusion detection system for higher education.
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., announced that four of its digital video recorders have been installed at the University of Florida to monitor 52 cameras in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
A Mitsubishi digital video recording system is also being used at the Jewelry Design Center in Spokane, Washington. The system was designed and installed by Audio Video Innovations.
OSS, Inc., has been chosen as one of 12 vendors to provide security guard services to UPS.
A distributed network-based video security system from Pelco is being used for surveillance at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino. Southwest Surveillance Systems was the integrator on the project.
IR Illuminators and varifocal lenses from Rainbow CCTV are being used to monitor child development at a clinic at the University of Minnesota.
Sunbelt Software has announced an OEM partnership with Cymphonix Corporation to integrate Sunbelt’s CounterSpy Gateway SDK into Cymphonix intelligent gateway appliance.
Wavestream Corporation is supplying its deck power amplifier to TeleCommunication Systems.
TriCipher is providing authentication technology to Advanced Payment Systems to secure the infrastructure for issuing and controlling its stored-value cards.
Valiant is integrating its work-force management solutions with Ascentis HROffice to create a complete management solution for middle-market companies.
VistaScape wide-area surveillance software has been deployed for TTI, a megaterminal operator, for facilities at the Ports of Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Passport readers from ACG Identification Technologies and Arcontia AB were chosen by Setec and the Swedish Police Department for use in the country’s nationwide electronic passport project.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport has upgraded from analog video to IP-based CCTV using equipment from ACTi Corporation and its partner, Visual Management Systems.
Tailgate detection systems from ADT Security Services, Inc., have been installed at employee entrance points at the Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia, Canada. The systems were developed by Newton Security, Inc.
Aigis Mechtronics, LLC, has been awarded a GSA schedule from the U.S. General Services Administration.
Asynchrony Solutions, Inc., was part of a national initiative headed by the U.S. Department of Justice to integrate criminal databases into the National Sex Offender Public Registry.
Axalto has been selected by Goznak, the national printing agency of the Russian Federation, to participate in the pilot phase of the national electronic passport program.
The New York City Housing Authority chose Elcor International Inc. to develop a comprehensive security plan. Elcor collaborated with integrator Metro York Electrical Inc. on a plan that features digital video recorders from Dedicated Micros, Inc.
The Shekou Container Terminal in southeastern China has chosen the DKL LifeGuard to detect stowaways.
The City of Los Angeles is upgrading its security system using the DVTel Intelligent Security Operations Center platform.
Boston Logan Airport is also using DVTel network video in conjunction with an access control system from Andover Controls.
Engineered Support Systems, Inc., was awarded a contract from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command for electronically powered Chemical Biological Protective Shelter retrofit kits.
EyeNx Inc. has supplied its LawVision in-car digital video and audio solution to the DeSoto Police Department (Texas).
IDELIX Software Inc. is developing its visualization technology with a strategic investment from In-Q-Tel, the investment arm of the CIA.
I.D. Systems has received additional orders from the U.S. Postal Service for its wireless vehicle management systems.
The North Carolina State Ports Authority has contracted with Johnson Controls Inc. to upgrade security measures at Wilmington and Morehead City Ports. The bulk of the funding comes from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) grants. C.H. Guernsey & Co. was hired to design the security system.
KKE Architects, Inc., has been selected as the design firm for an addition to the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater.
Rapiscan Systems has received a contract from the TSA to add software enhancements to its Secure 1000 backscatter technology for personnel screening.
Trijicon, Inc., won a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command for its Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights.
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Texas) has selected a digital video system from Vicon Industries Inc. for implementation in more than 45 facilities in the district.
Tallahassee Regional Airport is implementing a new security system that includes Vidient Systems video surveillance software. The system was designed by G5 Technologies and funded through a grant from the TSA.
Viisage and Motorola, Inc., combined their face recognition and fingerprint solutions to address identity issues for the Harris County Sheriff’s Department (Texas).
MARKETING AGREEMENTS
A4Vision has signed a distribution agreement with Bannerbridge plc. Bannerbridge will market and support A4Vision products in the U.K.
Gabriel Technologies Corporation has signed an agreement with Freightliner, LLC, to resell Gabriel’s WARLOK trucking security product line in North America.
Honeywell unveiled a new version of Literature XPress, the online marketing service for Honeywell customers.
Idesco Oy has made an agreement with Bewator AB, through which Bewator will distribute Idesco Mifare readers.
Security Erectors, Inc., will offer Pacom Systems integrated security products to its banking and commercial customers.
SafeData LLC, and GrowthCircle, LLC, have formed a partnership to promote SafeData products and services to GrowthCircle’s clients in the mid-Atlantic region.
Master Halco, Inc., has made an equity investment in Safeguards Technology, Inc., enabling Master Halco to more effectively distribute products to its channel partners.
Valiant has signed an agreement that grants EVERTEC exclusive rights to manage and sell Valiant’s workforce management solutions in Puerto Rico.
Vicon Industries, Inc., has announced that JMC Solutions, LLC, represents it in the New Jersey area.
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Abridean was recognized by Bloor Research as the easiest-to-implement provisioning solution in its 2005 Report on Identity Management.
Barthco International Inc. earned a 2005 Preservation Achievement Award from the Delaware Valley Planning Commission for its renovation of a building at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It was also named fourth overall for mid-size companies in the Philadelphia Business Journal “Best Places to Work.”
Dedicated Micros, Inc., has announced that its DV-IP Server was named Best New Product at the Australian Security Industry Association Limited awards ceremony.
EasyLobby SVM 8.0 software has been certified for use with Lenel OnGuard version
5.11.
IPC International Corporation has been awarded SAFETY Act Certification for its safety officer services from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Panda Software’s Platinum Internet Security Suite was named Best Buy in a review of antispyware products by PC World magazine.
Perimeter Internetworking has been named to the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program for Connecticut.
Postini was rated as the top information security vendor in a customer-satisfaction study that was conducted by TheInfoPro.
SecureWorks was ranked 39th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a nationwide rating, and also ranked third in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program for Georgia.
Sentillon, Inc., has received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a context management technology.
The IC module for e-passports from Sharp Corporation has received validation for Evaluation Assurance Level 4+ of the Common Criteria.
Systech Group was recognized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for excellence in design and best practices for the security design of the new FDIC complex in Arlington, Virginia.
The General Services Administration gave the award.
Vidient Systems, Inc., has received the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award for new products and technologies in video surveillance software.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Alarm Monitoring Services has moved into its new facility in Monroe, Louisiana.
ARINC Airport Systems was a sponsor of the 2005 Las Vegas World Aviation Forum.
Citigate Cunningham celebrated 20 years in the business of strategic communication for technology clients.
COPS Monitoring has been assisting with aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina by absorbing monitoring costs for dealers in disaster areas and donating food and funds to the Salvation Army.
Covalent Technologies has joined the Open Source Software Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes open source solutions within government IT environments.
Digimerge Technologies Inc. has launched a new Web site atwww.digimerge.com.
Dunbar Armored, Inc., has launched a program for secure transportation of confidential information and data.
HID Corporation is offering a Web-based e-learning tool for understanding contactless smart cards and readers. Students can sign up free at the company’s home page e-learning link or atwww.hidtraining.com.
HireRight now offers employment background screening services in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
Honeywell has announced that its Access Systems and Video Systems business units will combine to form the Honeywell Systems Group.
The International Cargo Security Council is offering C-TPAT compliance assessment and education programs that are helping global suppliers comply with new C-TPAT requirements.
Intrusion, Inc., is offering its “ID Theft Compliance Assessment” to members of America’s Community Bankers.
IPC International Corporation has acquired a controlling interest in St. James Holdings, which operates St. James Security and Touchline Event Management.
JVC Professional Europe Ltd. has moved its headquarters to new premises at Staples Corner, North London.
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc. has produced an interactive product guide CD to accompany its digital video recording system.
North American Video is constructing two new facilities in Las Vegas and Washington State. Both will include showrooms, technical support, product preparation, and warehousing facilities.
Perimeter Internetworking has acquired the assets of US Networks Inc.
PreEmptive Solutions, Inc., has moved to expanded offices in Mayfield Village, Ohio.
Red Hat is offering the Red Hat Certified Security Specialist certification program, with training in enterprise security administration skills.
Sensors Unlimited accepted an offer to merge with Goodrich Corporation.
SimplexGrinnell offered several campus fire-safety programs in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, including student training in fire safety, using a fire extinguisher, and evacuation procedures.
Symantec Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire BindView Development Corporation.
The University of Pittsburgh is creating an RFID Center of Excellence to expand its research into RFID technology.
Verified Person is offering its services to help states identify sex offenders who have relocated from the Gulf Coast, even if they have not registered in their new location.
Visa USA has released a new fraud report that finds, among other things, that its fraud rate decreased by 7 percent per year from 1990 to 2004.
VTI Security has moved to a new larger headquarters in Burnsville, Minnesota.
Women in Security Electronics has revamped its Web site, offering a discussion forum, event links, a job bank, and a directory of women-owned businesses.
ASIS NEWS
Operation Partnership
A new study, Operation Partnership, is being undertaken by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), U.S. Department of Justice. This study will be conducted in close coordination with the ASIS Law Enforcement Liaison Council and the Private Security Committee of the National Sheriffs’ Association. In addition, the study team will seek input from other security, law enforcement, and business organizations throughout the nation.
To encourage law enforcement and private security (LEPS) cooperation, COPS is supporting research into the approaches and techniques of these partnerships. The project includes the development of guidelines for LE-PS partnerships, featuring examples of innovative practices, informational contacts, and other useful materials.
The project implements a key recommendation of the 2004 COPS/International Association of Chiefs of Police National Policy Summit on building private security and public policing partnerships to help prevent and respond to terrorism and public disorder. The summit recognized that when law enforcement agencies and private security organizations work together, pooling their unique strengths, the result often exceeds what either party could accomplish alone.
Such partnerships pay rich dividends for police, businesses, and the public. Cooperation in resource and information sharing and joint planning and operations may lead to more comprehensive and efficient responses to crime, disasters, and terrorism.
The project will identify resources in private security that can assist local law enforcement. Part of the process will be documenting models and techniques of effective working relationships, including partnership formats and best practices in leadership, joint training, information exchange and intelligence sharing, and supplementing personnel and technology resources. The project will determine the extent to which community policing is being used to develop LE-PS partnerships.
The research findings and analysis will be documented in guidelines and materials suitable for use in training law enforcement and private security to develop partnerships by employing best practices. Finding partnerships to study and present as models will require both carefully directed surveys and knowledgeable referrals.
The research team would appreciate any leads regarding law enforcement and private security partnerships—whether formal or informal, general or problem-specific. The study team asks practitioners to submit contact information and a brief description of any such partnerships [email protected].
