​BUSINESS NEWS

Is the business climate really improving? Three industry associations that monitor the situation surveyed their members to find out.

When the Security Industry Association (SIA) polled 100 top executives at SIA member companies, its resulting Business Confidence Index increased to the highest level in more than four years, 74.9 out of 100. Last year’s number was just 59.

Another indicator, the Index of Small Business Optimism compiled by the National Federation of Independent Business, showed a gain early this year. Its value rose to 94.1 from 89.3 the previous year. More than 2,000 responses from member companies determine the index, and its numerical value is based on a standard of 100 in 1986.

January’s release of the CompTIA IT Industry Business Confidence Index also points to improvement in the business climate. Its outcome of 60 (out of 100) is the highest level since the index began. Researchers obtained responses from more than 1,000 IT companies in the United States and around the world.

PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS

Forward Air Corporation has selected the Asset Intelligence VeriWise Track & Trace system to monitor and manage its cargo trailers.

Avigilon announced that Merced College in California has deployed the Avigilon HD Surveillance System as part of its crime prevention strategy.

Brit Insurance will offer online law enforcement training courses from The Response Network to its customers through a new partnership.

Brivo Systems LLC and Jolly Technologies have integrated Brivo’s WebService Software as a Service access control solution with Jolly’s Lobby Track visitor management software.

Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies has entered a technology partnership with Vision Database Systems, which will integrate its ID management program with Ingersoll Rand’s Schlage high-security access control products.

Innotech Security Inc. has produced a line of security cameras that integrate Seawolf, the latest chip technology from Pixim.

March Networks announced that MedWest Health System in North Carolina is implementing the company’s VideoSphere Video Management System.

Sodra Alvsborgs Hospital in Sweden is using video management software from Milestone Systems and installed by Niscayah to ensure safety of patients and staff. The system is working with existing analog cameras and new IP cameras from multiple manufacturers.

NC4 is partnering with Armstrong Atlantic State University’s Cyber Security Research Institute to provide a secure means of sharing knowledge between the university and law enforcement professionals.

Samsung Techwin America has announced the integration of its network video cameras with the Ocularis IP video management software platform from OnSSI.

Gemini integrated security software from Bold Communications now supports Tele-Eye video recording servers to allow remote monitoring and visual alarm verification.

Unisys and LEGIC have expanded their partnership to focus on the integration of physical and logical access control and combining applications on a single identification credential.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Trilogy Networx Locks from Alarm Lock were installed at the headquarters and branch facilities of the Federal Public Defender in Tucson, Arizona.

American Science and Engineering, Inc., received an order from Yemen Customs for its Z Backscatter Vans for cargo and vehicle screening.

ASL Safety & Security delivered its iVENCS 3D control and supervisory platform for the City Thameslink train station in London.

Azavea was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation to develop advanced crime-risk forecasting capabilities.

CIBER Federal was chosen by the Virginia Port Authority to provide waterfront and shore perimeter surveillance at the Norfolk International Terminals.

North Richland Hills, Texas, is using IP surveillance technology from IQeye and LENSEC video management software.

L-3 Security & Detection Systems announced that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration has ordered its ProVision passenger screening systems for airport checkpoints in the United States.

Magal Security Systems, Ltd., will secure the Port of Mombasa under a new contract with the Port Authority of Kenya.

The Altoona (Pennsylvania) Bureau of Veteran’s Affairs contracted with Mobile Concepts by Scotty to provide it with a van that can be used as an emergency operations command.

Mountain Secure Systems provided wireless routers to Avrio RMS Group for use in the Chicago Police Department’s video surveillance system.

TagMaster North America, Inc., announced that its RFID system is enhancing security at Peru’s largest airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

The Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor—Economic Mission to the U.S. Southern Region is using Ultimate Lock technology to secure its facilities.

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS

AlliedBarton Security Services was honored by the Greater Metropolitan Washington D.C. Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management with the 2010 Friend of IREM of the Year Award.

Altronix has announced that its ReServ Uninterruptible Power Supplies are now UL listed.

Blackboard Inc. announced that its contactless campus card reader has won the SESAMES Award for innovative products in digital security and smart technologies. The awards are organized by COMEXPOSIUM and presented at the CARTES & IDentification trade show.

Delta Scientific announced that its new high-security sliding gate has been successfully tested to ASTM M50 and K12 standards.

Digital Monitoring Products has been awarded two patents for its Cancel/Verify feature, which allows users to instantly cancel false alarms or verify genuine emergencies.

The Joint Commission, an independent accreditation organization, has recognized that the use of enGauge monitoring systems satisfies the requirement for monthly physical inspections of fire extinguishers in healthcare facilities.

Future Fibre Technologies was named Australian Exporter of the Year and won the Small to Medium Manufacturer Award at the 2010 Australian Export Awards.

Weihai Municipal Government has won the 2010 China City Information Application Award for its implementation of the Intergraph Incident Management solution for its emergency operations center.

The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council honored Optelecom-NKF as its 2010 Small Business Member of the Year. IBM was the Council’s Corporate Member of the Year.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aon Risk Solutions has formed a Public Entity practice to address demand among government organizations for specialized risk advice and services.

Brady Corporation has acquired the Australian company ID Warehouse to expand its Australian business.

ASSA ABLOY has acquired LaserCard Corporation.

HID Global has initiated a mechanism for reporting potential security vulnerabilities in its products via the Product Security Reporting Center on its Web site, www.hidglobal.com.

Honeywell Life Safety has launched a Web site to help building owners and others understand emergency communications systems and keep up with regulations and best practices. The site is located at www.emergency-communications-systems.com.

NaviGate by Lauren Innovations has become a founding partner of the National Center for Spectator
Sports Safety and Security at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Securitas has acquired Piranha Security in South Africa, 85 percent of Alarm West Group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Cobra Security in Romania.

Shred-it has opened a new facility in Secaucus, New Jersey. The new location replaces its Brooklyn, New York, site with 50 percent more capacity.

The University of Phoenix has established a College of Criminal Justice and Security.

ASIS NEWS

Business Continuity Management Standard Released ASIS International and BSI, a leading global provider of risk-based solutions, assessments, and training programs, have released a joint American National Standard, Business Continuity Management Systems: Requirements with Guidance for Use (ANSI/ASIS/BSI BCM.1-2010). The standard provides auditable criteria with accompanying guidance for developing and implementing a business continuity management system that improves an organization’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disruptive event.

“This standard, which brought global experts in continuity management and contingency planning together, represents a consensus of business continuity management best practices,” says Marc Siegel, commissioner, ASIS Global Standards Initiative. “It provides a useful tool for any size or type of organization that wishes to enhance its preparedness performance and capabilities.”

Using the globally accepted ISO plan-do-check-act model, the ASIS/ BSI business continuity management standard specifies requirements for planning, establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, exercising, maintaining, and improving a business continuity management system.

Upon implementing the business continuity management system, an organization improves its ability to withstand disruptive events that may jeopardize its purpose, mission, and strategic objectives; delivers a demonstrable capability to manage a disruption and protect stakeholder interests; provides a structured and rehearsed method of restoring its productive ability with in a planned timeframe after a disruption; and promotes the safety and security of internal and external stakeholders.

“A viable business continuity plan is imperative for businesses to successfully overcome unscheduled interruptions or disruptions,” says Todd VanderVen, president, BSI Group America. “By working together, BSI and ASIS have produced a best-in-class business continuity management system that empowers individuals to better manage risk and strengthen corporate stability.”

“This standard provides management with the ability to plan past a business interruption and remain competitive,” stated Robert Whitcher, BSI’s product manager for business continuity. “By implementing it, a disruption need not become a corporate disaster.”

The ASIS/BSI Business Continuity Management Standard complements the ANSI/ASIS Organizational Resilience standard as well as BSI’s BS 25999 and addresses all the core elements of the DHS PSPrep Program.

All ASIS Standards and Guidelines are available through the ASIS Web site, www.asisonline.org.

The work of preparing ASIS Standards and Guidelines is carried out through the ASIS Standards and Guidelines Commission and its committees. An ANSI accredited Standards Development Organization, ASIS actively participates in the International Organization for Standardization, developing standards and guidelines within a voluntary, nonproprietary, and consensus-based process, using the knowledge, experience, and expertise of ASIS membership, security professionals, and the global security industry.

ASIS Donates Calling Cards to Soldiers

On Tuesday, December 14, 2010, representatives from the ASIS International Foundation, Inc., Verizon, and Securitas joined together at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to present prepaid calling cards to soldiers and their families. In addition to the individual and corporate donations, which totaled $17,000, Rite-Aid provided the prepaid Verizon phone cards at 50 percent discount to the Foundation—essentially doubling the amount of the final donation to the Medical Center.