Industry News January 2009
BUSINESS NEWS
The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) loss prevention team has partnered with the International Council of Shopping Centers and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create active- shooter incident response protocols for retailers. The guide outlines how retailers of all sizes can analyze a situation and react accordingly.
The protocols begin with a definition of an active shooter and an overview of recent shootings in retail settings. The guide offers advice for crafting a crisis-response plan, including preparation, prevention, response, stabilization, and recovery.
Because law enforcement often does not arrive until after a crisis is over, employees must know what to do in the interim and what to expect when help arrives. The guide suggests running tabletop exercises or simulations that involve customers, law enforcement, mall management, and corporate and local employees. It also includes a sample response protocol.
PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS
Union Savings Bank has selected 3VR SmartRecorders for its surveillance system. United Alarm Services, Inc., was the integrator.
Furman University is using theADT Select Link emergency communications system to notify students and staff of emergencies and routine operations.
American Military University has been admitted into the National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services.
Arbor Networks, Inc., announced that its Peakflow SP platform has been deployed for Netlog, a European social networking portal. Infradata assisted with the deployment of the technology.
CNL has been selected by IBM Global Technology Services to provide the platform for its command and control center solution.
Contemporary Services Corporation is providing security and event-staffing services at the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Datastrip and Codebench Inc. have worked together to create a PIV/TWIC cardholder verification solution.
Exacq Technologies and ioimage have formed a technology alliance to integrate ioimage’s video analytic appliances with the exacqVision server software.
Fayetteville State University has deployed safety and security systems from Federal Signal.
The Hach GuardianBlue Early Warning System was used to screen drinking water for contaminants during the Beijing Olympics.
Identica Holding Corporation has partnered with HID Global to provide a vascular biometric solution to Club Fitness centers in St. Louis.
John Lewis Department Stores in the United Kingdom are using IndigoVision IP video technology for surveillance.
Knowledge Online has announced that Staples UK will use its technology to improve loss prevention auditing.
MATE Intelligent Video and Milestone Systems have announced a partnership agreement to deliver a comprehensive security solution.
L-1 Identity Solutions has migrated its face-reader technology from a client/server system to an all-embedded device-based solution with the help of software and hardware components from McObject and Texas Instruments.
North American Video is providing video surveillance and a security system to the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs complex.
IAP Worldwide Services, Inc., will purchase SX1 remote-monitoring sensors from Numerex Corp. to incorporate into its emergency response efforts.
Dellux Technologies Inc., Canada, has selected Golden DRAGON LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors for illuminating the Thüringer Schmücketunnel in Germany.
Palo Alto Networks announced that Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has selected its firewall to improve security and patient privacy.
Pelco and Orsus have formed a partnership to integrate the Situator from Orsus with certain Pelco DVRs.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute has selected PhoneFactor from Positive Networks for two-factor authentication.
Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., and Advanced Detection Technology, LLC, have formed a strategic partnership to provide customers with superior security products and services.
Strix Systems and Digital Payment Technologies have formed a partnership to offer wireless network solutions for parking operations.
Toshiba is providing digital video recorders to Bank of New Jersey for use in its headquarters and branches.
Trusteer Rapport is protecting ING DIRECT against online fraud.
Westcountry Security, part of Chubb, is protecting vehicles from Tally Ho! Coaches from fuel thieves using long-range infrared detection.
Under a new contract, Weston Solutions Inc. will promote and market the Center for Security Training and Technology.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
ADT Security Services has provided an integrated security system with video and access control to protect the Birmingham Water Works and its water supply.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has begun posting Amber Alert messages throughout its rail and subway network. Many of the signs are from ARINC, which also supplied the digital public address system to the organization.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has ordered additional EDIsecure retransfer printers from Digital Identification Solutions Group to complete the state’s driver’s license and ID card program.
Durham Communications Inc. and Firetide Inc. have deployed a wireless mesh network that supports video surveillance, access control, and a connection to the central command center for Page Municipal Airport in Arizona.
Gemalto has been selected to supply its Sealys eTravel solution to India Security Press for use in the country’s electronic passport program.
Incident Alert Systems is providing its Fast Alert incident management and security system to Yakima School District (Washington) and Naches Valley Middle School (Washington).
ICx Technologies has won a follow-on contract from the U.S. Army for additional Cerberus mobile surveillance towers.
IndigoVision is providing its surveillance solution to the Canada Border Services Agency for use at border crossings with the United States.
Bellevue School District (Washington) has centralized its access control and is using Von Duprin exit devices or electric strikes and Schlage removable core key systems from Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies on its doors.
The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Intelligent Software Solutions an increase in its contract for secure information access, analysis, and dissemination.
Luminera Corporation and Searidge Technologies are providing an airport surveillance solution for the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The Texas National Guard has selected SkyPort Global Communications to provide satellite communications solutions for ongoing operations, training exercises, and emergencies.
Smartronix, Telos, and IBM are integrating their technologies for a security management solution for the Office of Naval Research.
TAC was awarded a contract by the Delaware River Port Authority to install an integrated video monitoring and emergency communications system along the rapid transit rail that connects Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. The project was funded by the Department of Homeland Security and purchased through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association.
MARKETING MOVES
Under a new marketing agreement, Travelocity Business will offer the Clear fast pass for airport security to its clients.
S2 Asset Protection will distribute Defentect’s threat management software and gamma radiation sensors in Canadian markets.
Gemalto has extended its partnership with Security Engineering Consortium Inc., which will continue to distribute Genetec’s solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
ObjectVideo has entered into an OEM agreement with Pelco, enabling Pelco to embed the ObjectVideo suite of analytics and software tools into its products.
Orsus and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) have signed a marketing agreement. SAIC will offer Orsus situation management software to its customers.
The PSA Security Network will offer the Eclipse Product Suite from Digital Horizon Solutions to its members. Jeron Electronic Systems Inc. has become a PSA Security Network vendor partner.
Videolarm has created a new logo identity and vision statement, “Creating Tomorrow’s Security Today.”
A new strategic relationship will allow SimplexGrinnell to resell videoNEXT IP video management software and other products and services.
Vumii has entered into a distribution partnership with PROSYS Inc., which will sell Vumii’s line of camera systems in South Korea.
Black & Decker has joined the Z-Wave Alliance.
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS
American Public University System announced that its Emergency and Disaster Management Program has been granted specialty accreditation from the Foundation of Higher Education.
Citi’s Global Transaction Services received a 2008 Identity Deployment of the Year Award from Liberty Alliance.
Diebold, Incorporated, completed the U.S. Air Force Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence certification process for its LINX Predator Elite Integrated Security System.
Guardium has been certified for integration under the ArcSight EnterpriseView Partner Program for risk monitoring solutions.
Honeywell has developed a new technology to produce a fertilizer with significantly lower explosive potential. The technology has received SAFETY Act designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Intransa announced that its Intransa StorStac System was ranked “excellent” and highly recommended for video surveillance installations by IPVS Magazine Labs.
IMS Research has recognized ioimage as the worldwide market leader for intelligent video devices.
The Security Knowledge Manager from videoNEXT has been qualified for integration into CIBER Inc.’s Fusion solution.
The Wall Street Journal has named the Discoverii camera system from Vumii the Technology Innovation Award winner in the physical security category.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Adesta, LLC, has established a new office in Northern Virginia to support federal government projects.
Axis Communications has introduced an out-of-warranty repair service that offers fixed-rate repairs for Axis network cameras whose warranties have expired.
The Communications and Connectivity Association, Inc., has adopted a formalized code of ethics for the organization.
Detector Electronics Corporation has launched a new RSS feed to deliver practical safety information to subscribers.
FM Approvals has placed its entire Approval Guide online. The guide helps users find fire-protection, building, and electrical products and services that are FM approved.
Hirsch Electronics has joined the Trusted Computing Group.
Honeywell Power Products is offering its “Fundamentals of Power Supplies” course at no charge.
Hyster Company has launched a global Web site featuring product information and news.
Intransa has released 12 Reasons for External IP Video Storage, a report on the benefits of IP storage. It can be downloaded from the company Web site.
Matrix Systems is donating the costs associated with a one-year service contract for the Ronald McDonald House—Cleveland.
The National Fire Protection Association has established a $6 million endowment for the Fire Protection Research Foundation.
Nuance Communications, Inc., has created Succeeding with Voice Biometrics, a guide to help organizations design and deploy speaker verification solutions.
ODIN technologies has released IT Asset Tracking Benchmark, which evaluates the performance of passive RFID based on physics.
On-Net Surveillance Systems Inc. has moved its headquarters to a new facility in Pearl River, New York.
Optex Europe has published a new guide, Boundary-Gard, to help installers overcome challenges posed by weather, animals, plants, and the public that can interfere with external installations.
Pelco has opened warehouses in Shanghai, China, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Sandra Jones and Company now offers business valuation, assessment, and other financial planning services to dealers and integrators.
Securitas has acquired El Guardian in Argentina. It has acquired 70 percent of the shares of Purzeczko in Poland. Its Swiss subsidiary Protectas SA has acquired SH Safe Home SA.
Standex Electronics has launched a new Web site for easier navigation, with comprehensive product and application listings.
Tri-Ed held events at many of its branches to support the Pitch in for Baseball charity last fall. Manufacturers and customers contributed baseball and softball equipment to the charity for distribution to communities around the world.
ASIS NEWS
Third Annual Convergence and ERM Award Given
The Alliance for Enterprise Security Risk Management (AESRM) presented Eddie Skey, senior solutions architect at Forsythe Solutions Group in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the third annual Excellence in Security Convergence and Contribution to Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Award at the 54th Annual ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits in Atlanta. AESRM is a partnership of security organizations ASIS and ISACA.
AESRM created the award to honor individuals who are leading the growing fields of ERM and security convergence, which is the integration of traditional and information security functions. “The work of professionals such as Eddie Skey is helping enterprises realize more effective and efficient security, and AESRM is pleased to recognize his contributions,” said Emil D’Angelo, chair of AESRM. “We congratulate the finalists and nominees and thank them for their continued efforts to advance the security profession through convergence.”
Skey was selected as the winner for his demonstrated ability to integrate all aspects of security into a comprehensive plan that addresses the needs of technical specialists as well as senior management. A member of ISACA, he is also a founding member and past president of the Charlotte Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA). Through this chapter, he created a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students studying information security at the University of North Carolina. Each year, Skey brings in industry experts to speak at the annual ISSA Summit, which allows members to receive cost-effective security training.
According to one of his nominators, “Eddie possesses a technologically broad skill set as well as the innate ability to take feedback and questions from customers to discover new vulnerabilities and ways to mitigate them.”
Another of Skey’s nominators said he was most impressed when Skey assisted in the creation of an information security plan at the nominator’s company. “Skey...[showed] his methodology of selling such a plan to management. He wanted to change management’s perception of the plan by representing it as a competitive edge over the competition instead of as an insurance policy,” the nominator wrote. “This tactic showed management the return on investment and the total cost of ownership of the plan, which in my opinion was the most difficult task of all.”
Finalists for the annual AESRM award included Kevin Feimster, chief information security officer (CISO) of the National Stock Exchange; Al Kirkpatrick, CISO of First American Corporation; and John Paczkowski, director of emergency management and security of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Representatives from both AESRM partner organizations judged all nominations. Among the criteria for the award was demonstrated leadership in improving the convergence of traditional and information security throughout an organization. The award also recognizes progress in areas such as improved security and decreased risk within an enterprise; achieved demonstrable ROI/cost savings; convergence progress achieved in all three domains of people, process, and technology; and demonstrated leadership in sharing convergence accomplishments outside of one’s own enterprise.
Accredited Lead Auditor Course ASIS International and Sustainability Pty. Ltd., a specialist consulting, auditing, and training organization, have announced plans to create the industry’s first customized, internationally accredited security lead-auditor course. The course, designed specifically for industry professionals involved with the development of security management systems and managers responsible for improvement outcomes, meets the requirements for ISO 28000:2007— the specification for security management systems for supply chains.
Those participating in the course will gain the knowledge and skills needed to assess security and supply chain risks, maintain and improve security management systems, and successfully conduct security management systems audits. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a Lead Auditor Competency Certificate. The first five-day course, accredited by RABQSA International, Inc., a global certification company, will be announced in the coming months.
“Most organizations rely on the supply chain to ensure business continuity and are vulnerable if supplies are interrupted,” says Tony Webster-Smith, founder and CEO of Sustainability. “The partnership between Sustainability and ASIS will see the delivery of accredited specialist leadauditor training, which will greatly assist organizations in the prevention and management of security risks within their supply chains, which, in turn, will help achieve continuity of supply.”
ISO 28000:2007 outlines the requirements for an organization to establish, implement, maintain, and improve a security management system, including those aspects critical to security assurance of the supply chain. “This standard defines auditable criteria to identify and manage the risks associated with natural or man-made incidents to minimize their impact on organizations,” says Mark Geraci, CPP, chair of the ASIS Commission on Standards and Guidelines. “Built on the same process approach and Plan-Do-Check-Act methodologies as other ISO standards, ISO 28000 allows for independent third-party assessment and certification.”
