BUSINESS NEWS

Is shoplifting or employee theft the larger element in retail shrinkage? That’s one of the questions tackled by Changing Retail, Changing Loss Prevention, a new report from the Centre for Retail Research. The report also breaks down loss prevention trends by region. Other significant elements of shrinkage include fraud, process failures, and accounting errors.

The report explores increases in both shoplifting and employee theft, likely related to the recession; changes in spending on loss prevention; growth in organized retail crime and refund fraud; and online retailing issues. In addition, changes in technology have produced changes in what is stolen. New products, such as gaming systems, new perfumes, and the latest in sports footwear are particularly vulnerable when they are first introduced at a premium price.

Among noted trends in fighting shrinkage are: increased employee training to spot and deter theft, spending on crime prevention hardware and software, preemployment screening, and CCTV surveillance with analytics.

The report summarizes global retail crime and loss prevention trends since 2001. It is based on annual Global Retail Theft Barometer publications produced by the Centre and sponsored by Checkpoint Systems, Inc. To see the full report, click here​.

PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS

ObjectVideo, Inc., has entered into a license agreement with 3VR that will allow 3VR to have access to the full portfolio of ObjectVideo video analytic patents.

Amika Mobile’s Amika Mobility Server platform is now integrated with CDYNE’s voice callout service for communication safety. The combined solution will be used at the 2013 Little League Baseball World Series this month.

BadgePass has joined the aptiQAlliance, making its ID badging and access solutions compatible with aptiQ’s smart card and other credentials.

Automatic Systems was selected to provide its Smart-Lane Security Entrance Lanes to a new location for BMO Harris Bank North America in Naperville, Illinois.

Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union has deployed an Avigilon system to help secure its facility.

Barix is collaborating with Enghouse Interactive to enable organizations to use their legacy analog speaker systems with IP functionality.

Capco will implement Eye Lock’s identity authentication security solutions across the financial services sector under a new partnering relationship.

Envysion’s managed video as a service solution is being implemented in Popeyes restaurants operated by Wali Enterprises.

G4S Technology has formed a partnership with Exacq Technologies to integrate Exacq’s video management solutions into G4S’s security management system.

TransTech Systems will distribute identification solutions from Global Enterprise Technologies Corporation under a new distribution agreement.

Local police and fire alerts from Nixie are now integrated into Google’s Public Alerts platform.

HGH Infrared Systems and Barco Federal Systems have teamed up to make infrared touch screen applications for vehicles and control rooms.

HID Global has expanded its partnership with RedCloud to integrate HID’s EDGE EVO and VertX EVO networked access control solutions into RedCloud’s portfolio.

A Genesys2 physical security information management solution from ISM is being used to selectively lockdown access points at City Hospital in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Waterford Regional Hospital in Waterford, Ireland, has deployed a mix of IQeye HD megapixel cameras from IQinVision and Xprotect video management software from Milestone in an upgrade to its surveillance system. GVD and Park 100 facilitated the changes.

Innometriks has embedded multispectral fingerprint sensors from Lumidigm into its new Rhino Touch identification device.

Fifth Third Bancorp has launched an upgrade program to replace hundreds of existing March Networks video recorders with new models from the company.

Merit LILIN USA Corp has announced that its professional IP and analog cameras now are interoperable with Control4 home automation technology.

Westfield Shopping Centers throughout Australia are using a new fingerprint-based key management system based on the Morse Watchmans KeyWatcher solution. The system was developed by Blue Glue and Morse Australia.

Oncam Grandeye and Pelco by Schneider Electric have integrated Pelco’s IP video management system with Oncam Grandeye’s 360-degree surveillance technologies.

ReD announced that Wi-MacTel has selected the ReD Shield real-time fraud prevention service.

SAFER Systems and Total Safety have formed a partnership to incorporate SAFER’s emergency response software into Total Safety’s emergency response offerings.

SRI International announced that it will license its EMERALD network intrusion detection patents to IBM.

Talk-A-Phone has integrated its VoIP-500 series phone with Singlewire Software’s InformaCast advanced notification solution.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Brivo Systems LLC announced that the Athens City-County Health Department (Ohio) is using Brivo ACS WebService to secure its facility. Tyco Integrated Security is the dealer and installer on the project.

Cross Match Technologies, Inc., delivered a custom version of its L SCAN 500P palm scanner to NEC for deployment by Japan’s national law enforcement agency.

The government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of China has chosen Giesecke & Devrient to manufacture its new smart ID card.

Chillicothe High School in Missouri has deployed IQinVision cameras as part of its new surveillance system. SMC designed the system, which uses Exacq video management software.

Alfapass is replacing an older biometric system at the Belgian Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge with LumidigmV-Series fingerprint readers.

The Mariner Group, LLC, is providing its Command-Bridge situational awareness and response software to the Port of Galveston.

Clark County School District (Nevada) has chosen Med Sled to provide evacuation devices for injured and immobile people as well as training for their use.

National Strategic Protective Services, LLC, has taken over as provider of protective force services at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge, Tennessee, facilities.

The Danish Police have selected Steria for a fingerprint identification program.

Suspect Detection Systems Inc. will provide Cogito units to the India State Police in one of India’s large states.

TagMaster North America, Inc., announced that its Access Control Tracking System has been installed at the Logan International Airport’s Green Bus Depot.

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS

All of the 5-megapixel 360-degree cameras from AMG Systems are now ONVIF compliant.

Dallmeier received Authorized Economic Operator certification from the European Union.

Diebold, Incorporated, won a SAMMY Award from Security Sales & Integration for a resort project it planned and installed.

DRS Technologies has received the Defense Security Service Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence.

Evidence Talks has received a European patent for its Spektor Remote Forensics. A patent is pending in the United States.

G4S security officers won the BSIA Award for Best Regional Team (South West) in recognition of their work at the Hinkley Point nuclear site.

HID Global’s iCLASS Seos credential won the Asian SESAMES Award in the software and applications category.

Identive Group, Inc., announced that its iAuthenticate smart card reader has been certified for use with Apple iPhone and iPad mobile devices.

Industrial Scientific announced that its gas detection-as-a-service solution was recognized as Health & Safety Initiative of the Year at the Gulf Coast Oil and Gas Awards.

Real-Time Technology Group was named a ComputerworldHonors Laureate for its Secure Worker Access Consortium, which brings public and private organizations together for securing critical infrastructure.

A Schlage card reader integrated in an electronic lock was chosen for the Security Products’ Government Security Award in the wireless security category.

WatchGuard Technologies announced that its XTM 5 Series was a Silver winner in the Security Products and Solutions for Medium Enterprises category in the Info Security Products Guide 2013 Global Excellence Awards.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International has launched a new Web site that is dedicated to safety and emergency response apps at http://appcomm.org.

C6 Intelligence Information Systems has opened a branch office in Singapore.

Colorado Technical University has initiated a Master of Science in Homeland Security degree.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has updated its Fire Training Research Center for aircraft rescue firefighting training and research.

Digital Defense, Inc., offers a free social networking security guide, “Social Media Dangers—What Every Social Butterfly Should Know,” at its Web site.

Enterprivacy Consulting Group is a new firm serving businesses concerned with building privacy and security controls into their products and services.

FLIR Systems has opened a new engineering and manufacturing facility in Elkridge, Maryland.

GFI Software is spinning off its security technology business unit to establish ThreatTrack Security.

Identive Group, Inc., has launched a Japanese language version of its near field communication online marketplace at identiveNFC.com.

Iveda Solutions, Inc., has opened its Innovation Lab at the Taiwan campus of the International Technology Research Institute.

Johns Hopkins University has introduced a Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis program.

Pinkerton has launched a Web site that provides security and risk management resources at pinkerton.com.

PlateSmart Technologies offers a software developer’s kit to allow integration between its software-only technology and any existing video security system.

Polaroid has entered the commercial security video industry, offering solutions including analog, digital, and IP cameras; recorders; software; and connectors.

Security Networks has awarded free alarm systems to three local nonprofits.

Vuance has changed its corporate name to SuperCom Ltd.

Ultimate Knowledge Institute, in partnership with Examplify, has launched a Social Media Security Professional certification program.

The Center for Biosecurity of UPMC has changed its name to the UPMC Center for Health Security.

Utica College is an education partner with the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.

ASIS NEWS

ASIS Signs MOU
ASIS International has signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Security Industry Association (SIA) and the Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI).

The MOU between ASIS and the SIA promotes collaboration and information sharing between the two leading security industry associations. As the largest professional association for security management professionals, ASIS represents more than 38,000 security practitioners worldwide. SIA, which is the leading trade association for electronic and physical security providers, represents more than 450 member companies. The signing of the MOU took place in April in Las Vegas, Nevada, at ISC West.

The objective of the MOU is to foster growth of the security industry, promote public safety, and protect critical infrastructure globally. Among the issues that may be addressed by the two associations are privacy concerns over the use of security technologies; the development of an educated security workforce; voluntary consensus standards; and the availability of federal and state financial resources for the protection of critical infrastructure during a time of fiscal austerity.

“As a combined global community of tens of thousands of security practitioners and technology innovators, ASIS and SIA together possess an invaluable repository of knowledge and expertise,” says ASIS President Geoffrey T. Craighead, CPP. “The security challenges facing our nation and our world continuously evolve and new risks emerge making it increasingly vital to collaborate and to leverage available resources to ensure the future protection of people, property, and information. It is our primary, common goal.”

“A key strategic SIA goal is to increase our collaboration with organizations within the security industry toward the common goal of protecting critical infrastructure around the globe,” explains SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Combining the expertise of technology leaders from the supplier community within SIA with the vision of leading security practitioners from ASIS will help shape the future direction of the homeland security industry. We can do more working together to achieve our common objectives in the fields of education, government relations, research, and standards than we can do on our own.”

BICSI. BICSI is a professional association that supports the information technology systems (ITS) industry, serving more than 23,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. The MOU with BICSI will help foster the growth of the security and information technology systems industries, and, as with SIA, to promote public safety and protect global critical infrastructure. Privacy, workforce development, and federal resources will be among the top issues to be addressed.

“The collective knowledge and expertise within our membership is substantial. By focusing on common goals and leveraging our core assets, ASIS and BICSI have a tremendous opportunity to shape the future of homeland security, thus influencing and driving practice, policy and strategy across the private and public sectors,” says Craighead. “Together, we possess the information, skills, and abilities to exponentially increase the effectiveness and efficiency of security and information systems technology systems for the global benefit of public safety and business resiliency.”

“There is incredible synergy between these two great associations. I’ve been a member of both for many years, and have watched as the convergence of IT and physical security enabled a relationship like this to make sense for the stakeholders of both associations. I would encourage all BICSI members involved in any aspect of physical security to take advantage of the benefits of the ASIS relationship,” states BICSI President Jerry L. Bowman, CPP.

Councils Release White Papers
The ASIS International Utilities Security Council and the ASIS Security Services Council have released new white papers. All of them are available to members as free downloads at each Council’s Web page at the Society’s Web site, www.asisonline.org.

The Utilities Security Council has put out two white papers, Metal Theft: A 21st Century Plague, and Intelligence Networks: Partnerships in Complex Utility Security Risk Management.

The theft of metals—in particular the theft of copper wiring, grounding cables, and other copper components—is a serious problem for most utilities. The thefts can create unsafe conditions for workers and the public, as well as placing the electricity grid, communications media, and other public-safety systems at severe risk.

The simple theft of metals has resulted in a number of deaths. Continued disruption of services adds significant costs to the millions of dollars already lost to North America’s utilities operations from these thefts. On a global level, this problem is magnified. The white paper explores the overall problem of metal theft and offers advice based on the work already done by many utilities.

The second white paper highlights the need for utilities to develop intelligence collaboration and it provides a starting point for doing so. It examines the current frameworks in place for information and intelligence sharing within the utilities sector and notes that even though there is concern over cybersecurity protection practices, these are becoming more manageable because utilities can look to existing and developing standards in addition to regulatory requirements. There is however, a level of threat that exceeds the ability and resources of any utility to manage.

The Security Services Council’s white paper is Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Impact on the Contract Security Services Industry. The paper examines how the contract security service industry in the United States will be impacted by the new healthcare legislation, in particular implementing a cost effective solution to the employer mandate (“shared responsibility” requirement) that goes into effect on January 1.

The paper was produced to provide a basic overview of the legal requirements of the employer mandate and to serve as an educational resource for security professionals and the customers they serve. It is not intended to advocate for or against any particular approach to satisfying the requirements of the employer mandate with regard to employee hours, benefits offered, or pricing strategies. While each company must consider a multitude of specific internal factors that will vary by size, demographics, and management philosophy of each organization, this paper will serve as a general educational resource on how the requirements to provide employee healthcare benefits will be felt in the industry.