Industry News January 2010
BUSINESS NEWS
The American Red Cross has launched a new program to help schools and businesses with their emergency planning and preparedness efforts. Its Ready Rating Program began as a project of the Greater St. Louis chapter, which has enrolled 150 schools and businesses in the program. Founding sponsor of the local effort, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., is now providing a grant to expand the program to 16 other cities across the country.
Once an organization joins the program, it is led through the basic steps to assess risk and develop an emergency plan for itself. An online risk assessment helps, but the organization must tailor its plans for its own location, personnel needs, and other circumstances. The program also encourages businesses to promote personal preparedness efforts among employees, families, and the wider local community.
Another group working to educate the public on readiness is the Girl Scouts of the USA. The organization has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a preparedness patch. To earn the patch, Scouts perform activities that include identifying and preparing for potential emergencies, learning about local warning systems, and engaging in community service. An ongoing affiliation between DHS Citizen Corps and Girl Scouts encourages young women to become community leaders in emergency management and response and to raise public awareness in this area.
PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS
AMAG Technology and SALTO Systems have formed a strategic partnership to integrate AMAG’s security management system with SALTO’s electronic locks to provide economical access control for an entire building or campus.
Anixter Inc. and Telezygology Inc. have released a cabinet-locking system for data center cabinets.
Arecont Vision cameras are being used by Service Tracking Systems in a solution that documents the condition of vehicles entering parking facilities to prevent false damage claims.
Bosch Security Systems has chosen ComNet to develop a fiber-optic Ethernet interface for Bosch AutoDome cameras.
CoreStreet and Salamander Technologies have formed a partnership to enhance Salamander’s interTRAX Suite using CoreStreet PIVMAN technology.
Electronic Control Security has entered a worldwide marketing and sales agreement with Balinor International, LLC, to market Electronic Control’s new anti-piracy technology.
Enfora and Texas Instruments Incorporated have announced an expansion of their joint initiatives to provide wireless connectivity solutions.
Gemalto has acquired Trusted Logic and will accelerate the international development of Trusted Logic technologies.
HID Global announced that its Edge IP-based access control solutions will be integrated into the C•CURE 9000 access control platform from Software House.
Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH has chosen Powerfleet VMS from I.D. Systems, Inc., to manage its industrial trucks at a production and distribution facility in Germany.
The Comanche Lawton Casino has installed a new IGT Advantage Players Club gaming system. In addition, ConnectionsIT has installed an audio system and a new card-control access system for secure areas.
The Glasgow Science Center in Scotland has upgraded its CCTV system with IndigoVision’s IP video solution, which was installed by SCS Security Design.
PSA Security Network will offer Schlage reader and credential products from Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies.
LoJack Supply Chain Integrity has formed a strategic partnership with NC4 to integrate NC4’s Critical Incident Monitoring Data into LoJack’s SC-ISAC.
Matrox Graphics Inc. is partnering with Control Room Group to power customized video display wall solutions.
Northrop Grumman and Syagen Technology have signed a product development and license agreement to collaborate on new chemical and biological detection technologies.
Oberthur Technologies SA and Comex Electronics AB have formed a strategic partnership through which Comex will include Oberthur products and services in their solutions with card readers and smart cards.
Aqua America has deployed Situator from Orsus to manage security systems at its Pennsylvania water-related facilities.
OSS, Inc., has contracted with UGL Unicco Service Company to provide security guard services for Rolls-Royce Energy Systems, Inc.
Panasonic has announced an agreement with Berk-Tek to develop converged IP solutions.
Pelco and Cisco announced a strategic technology agreement to develop high-definition IP video security cameras.
Purdue Homeland Security Institute and 21st Century Systems, Inc., have entered into an agreement to jointly pursue opportunities for implementation of new decision-support tools and processes at the local, state, and national levels.
SafeData, LLC, and Omni Solutions are partnering to provide broader services for SafeData clients.
SCM Microsystems and Bluehill ID are combining their companies to expand their position in contactless technology.
The Texas Engineering Extension Service and the International School for Security and Explosives Education are providing certified counterterrorism, security, and unexploded ordnance disposal training.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
The Raleigh North Carolina Police Department is using access control from Brivo for its employees, subcontractors, and other personnel, covering 30 doors at 11 locations.
Datacard Group has deployed its card personalization system for use in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport card program by the U.S. Department of State.
Delta Scientific Corporation provided vehicle crash barriers to help protect the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
Canada Border Services Agency has deployed an IP video surveillance system from IndigoVision to monitor customs on the U.S.-Canadian border and at Vancouver Airport.
Intergraph has been named a member of the Emergency Support System Consortium approved by the European commission to develop a portable emergency command and control system.
Canby School District (Oregon) has installed JVC Professional Products V.Networks IP cameras and video recorders as part of its new surveillance system.
Hidden Technology Systems International Ltd. was awarded a five-year contract by the U.S. Department of Defense to provide a global transport security and alert system.
Mobile Concepts by Scotty delivered a mobile command trailer built for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to be used during the G-20 Summit. PEMA lent the trailer to the Allegheny
County Emergency Services to be used by its state Technical Support Group.
MorphoTrak was awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to provide fingerprint identification technology for the FBI Next Generation Identification system.
NABCO, Inc., announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has deployed NABCO total containment vessels to support its mission to counter and contain chemical, biological, and explosive threats.
An IP video management and control solution from On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc., will manage video surveillance cameras at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and other Massachusetts venues.
Raytheon Company has delivered its Mobile Nuclear Radiation Detection System to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Reveal Imaging Technologies, Inc., has received an order from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for its explosives detection system.
Bedford Pennsylvania School District has adopted the E911 Emergency Awareness Solution from Teo.
The Rio de Janeiro Brazil State Prison Administration is using Nextiva IP video products from Verint Video Intelligence Solutions to enhance the security of its maximum-security prison complex.
Vicon Industries Inc. will provide IP video surveillance systems to all 33 New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles locations.
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS
American Military University was ranked second in Military Times Edgemagazine’s list of the 50 most popular colleges chosen by active duty service members.
Bunker Secure Hosting Ltd. has achieved Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance.
Internet security firm Calyp tix Security was awarded “Best in Show” at the 7th Annual SMB Nation Fall Conference.
Genetec was selected as one of Montreal’s Top Employers for the fourth consecutive year by The Montreal Gazette and Le Devoir.
IriTech, Inc., was identified by the National Institute of Science and Technology’s IREX 2008 test as providing superior performance with operational iris images.
On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc., was recognized as the leading vendor of open-platform network video management software in the Americas by IMS Research.
Sirit Inc. was recognized by Frost & Sullivan with its 2009 Award for Competitive Strategy Leadership of the Year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Allied Telesis Inc. has initiated a partner program to extend its reach into the IP surveillance marketplace. Among its new partners are Axis Communications; DVTel, Inc.; Pelco; Anixter International Inc.; Graybar; Ingram Micro; ADT Security Services; and Red Hawk.
AMAG Technology is expanding its headquarters building in Torrance, California.
Bridgepoint Education, Inc., announced that its Ashford University is introducing a new online program leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Comodo has donated SSL certificates and HackerGuardian PCI scanning services to TechSoup.org for use by qualifying nonprofit organizations.
Crossbeam Systems has launched a new Authorized Training Center in Mexico City.
The Canadian Pacific has joined e-RAILSAFE Canada, a security management service operated by e-VERIFILE. COM.
The Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association has launched a redesigned Web site at ww.femalifesafety.org.
G4S Wackenhut has launched a new remote security monitoring and data center near Boston.
Prestige Alarm and Specialty Products, Inc., of Birmingham, Alabama, donated an E3 Series emergency evacuation system, manufactured by Gamewell-FCI, to a local Ronald McDonald House.
Nokia has joined the Industry Consortium for Advancement of Security on the Internet as a founding member.
Intransa has relocated some of its headquarters functions to a new facility in Cupertino, California.
Members of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association voted to change the organization’s name to the Electronic Security Association.
Sagem Sécurité has created Morpho Detection from the recent acquisition of GE Homeland Protection.
A Fastlane GlassGate 200 optical turnstile from Smarter Security Systems is featured in the recent movie Surrogates.
UPM Raflatac has launched a new Web site atwww.upmrfid.com.
Wren is sponsoring the “Shop with a Cop” program for the Fulton County Fraternal Order of Police, which pairs underprivileged children with a police officer to shop for school supplies and holiday gifts.
ASIS NEWS
Board Management Committee Announced
The ASIS International Board of Directors will be headed in 2010 by five security management professionals who make up the Board Management Committee and hold the positions of chairman of the board, president, president-elect, treasurer, and secretary. The latter was decided during an election by the full board of directors held at the ASIS 55th Annual Seminar and Exhibits in Anaheim, California, in September. The Board Management Committee directs the activities of ASIS between meetings of the full board. These volunteer leaders give strategic continuity to the programs, products, and services ASIS provides.
The Society’s chairman of the board is Michael R. Cummings, CPP, who served as ASIS president last year. Cummings is director of loss prevention services for Aurora Health Care of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The new president is Joseph R. “Bob” Granger, CPP, security director of United Space Alliance in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The president-elect (formerly vice president) is Raymond T. O’Hara, CPP, senior vice president for Andrews International of Palm Desert, California. The new treasurer is Eduard J. Emde, CPP, consultancy manager for Interseco of Wassenaar, The Netherlands. The Society’s 2010 secretary is Geoffrey T. Craighead, CPP, who is vice president of Universal Protection Service of Santa Ana, California.
The secretary was selected through an election by the 2010 ASIS Board of Directors.
The full, 13-member board for the 2010-2012 term is: Marene N. Allison, vice president of security, Medco of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey; Chad Callaghan, CPP, vice president, enterprise loss prevention, Marriott International Inc., of Washington, D.C.; Craighead; Cummings; David C. Davis, CPP, director, division security, Northrop Grumman of San Bernardino, California; Emde; Granger; Joseph H. Mc- Donald, CPP, PSP, who is CSO of Switch Communications Group, of Las Vegas, Nevada; Kaj Møller, corporate security manager Novo Nordisk, Bagsværd, Denmark; O’Hara; Dave N. Ty son, CPP, CISO at Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, California; Richard E. Widup Jr., CPP, senior director of security operations/corporate security of Purdue Pharma LP of Stamford, Connecticut; and Richard Y. Yama moto, CPP, director, corporate security and safety, Fannie Mae of Washington, D.C.
Second Edition of Preemployment Screening Guideline Available
ASIS International has released the second edition of the Preemployment Background Screening (PBS)
Guideline. The guideline, designated ASIS GDL PBS-2009, is an educational and practical tool that organizations can use to understand the reasons for job applicant preemployment background screening, as well as the legal principles surrounding the issue. The PBS guideline can also assist in developing policies and procedures that will enhance an organization’s hiring policy.
ASIS and the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), in an effort to promote shared cooperative interests, collaborated in the revision of the 2006 version of the ASIS Preemployment Background Screening Guideline.
“Hiring a new employee is an important responsibility for any organization,” says Michael Knoke, CPP, vice chair of the ASIS International Standards and Guidelines Commission. “An employer who evaluates an applicant against a thorough preemployment background screening program is more likely to bring into the organization a highly skilled person who will prove to be a tremendous asset. Unfortunately, absent a sufficient preemployment background screening program, that same employer runs the risk of exposing his or her organization to someone who could ultimately become the organization’s greatest liability. This document provides organizations with guidance in this effort.”
“Employers, from the smallest to the largest, understand the dual benefits of hiring the best people and providing a safe and secure workplace—both physically and financially—for their employees, customers, shareholders, and the community in which they operate. A key factor advocated by the guideline is for employers to know as much as possible about the people they want to hire and to know it before hiring them,” says NAPBS Executive Director Tracy Seabrook.
The PBS guideline presents practical information concerning the value of preemployment background screening, the importance of the application form, important legal issues and considerations (such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, privacy issues, state laws, rules, and regulations), the key elements of preemployment background screening, the types of information to use in verifying the key elements, the use of credit reporting agencies in preemployment background screening, and an appendix that has a sample preemployment background screening flow chart.
ASIS Standards and Guidelines are developed through a consensus standards-development process which brings together volunteers and/or seeks out the views of people who have an interest in the topic covered. All ASIS Standards and Guidelines are available for sale through the ASIS Web site,www.asisonline.org.
