First to Achieve FIPS 201 Certification for Biometric Authentication
3M Cogent announced that its MiY-ID Gov biometric access control reader is the first product to be certified as an approved biometric authentication system by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in accordance with FIPS 201 standard. At a high level, the Biometric Authentication System performs the following:
- 1:1 biometric match,
- validation of the biometric signer’s certificate, and
- interfacing with Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) and Server-based Certificate Validation Protocol (SVCP)
FIPS 201 is a U.S. federal government standard that encompasses specific Personal Identity Verification (PIV) requirements for federal employees and contractors for access to federal facilities and information systems. All devices used to read, validate, or authenticate the FIPS 201 PIV credentials must be an approved product as certified by GSA.
MiY-ID is 3M Cogent’s award-winning, multi-functional biometric access control reader.
For information about the MiY-ID Gov, visit http://www.cogentsystems.com/pacsoverview.asp.
Optex Products Integrated With Milestone VMS to Minimize False Alarms
Integrators can expect that Optex Inc.’s perimeter security products will be fully integrated with Milestone Systems’ XProtect Corporate and XProtect Enterprise IP video management platforms, according to an announcement made by the companies.
Optex detection products will be integrated fully into the XProtect platform through add-on Milestone device packs available this summer. Device packs will be available for:
Redscan Laser-Scan Detectors that identify moving objects’ size, speed and distance from the detector. The devices process that information with a unique algorithm, resulting in a highly reliable detection system with minimal false alarms, according to the companies.
PIE-1 PoE Alarm IP Encoder, which when used with Redwall SIP series passive infrared detectors and Fiber Defender, a fiber-based intrusion detection system from Optex’s Fiber SenSys business, converts alarm signals to an IP signal sent to the XProtect video management software (VMS). The PoE functionality also powers Optex devices.
“Integration of innovative Optex products into the Milestone VMS platform will enable more accurate and reliable video analytics by reducing false alarms,” said Ryosuke Miwa, Optex’s general manager of global sales and marketing.
For information, visit www.optexamerica.com/redwall and www.milestonesys.com.
Transmission Solution ‘Bridges’ Analog With IP
Today’s new IP edge devices such as cameras, network video recorders (NVR), and management software offer performance and functionality advantages — but it can be a challenge to incorporate them with legacy coax infrastructure. Altronix Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a manufacturer of low-voltage power supplies and peripherals for the electronic security industry, introduced a solution that transmits IP video and data over coaxial cable more than 2,000 feet without the need for repeaters. Called eBridge, the Ethernet adapters from Altronix make it possible to use legacy coax infrastructure with IP video surveillance and access control devices without the cost of installing new cabling.
“Altronix new eBridge Ethernet Adapters make it possible to upgrade systems from analog to IP without having to rewire a facility with CAT5 cable,” Alan Forman, president, Altronix, told SDM. “In addition to the substantial cost savings that can be realized from using existing coax infrastructure and the improved performance and functionality IP the devices generally provide, Altronix eBridge Ethernet adapters also extend transmission distances over 2000 feet without repeaters. This is well beyond the CAT-5E/6 cable maximum of 328 feet.
Forman described further benefits, including eBridge’s function as a mixed-signal solution, saying, “Additional bandwidth also allows multiple cameras to be transmitted on one coax by adding a switch at the camera end. And when using IP cameras with composite video outputs, Altronix eBridge Ethernet Adapters can transmit both IP and composite video simultaneously ensuring that live video is always present on the coax for monitoring and recording purposes.”
Altronix eBridge Ethernet Adapters incorporate Security Link over Coax (SLOC™) technology from Intersil Corporation, Milpitas, Ca. Sony Corporation of America, New York, has already incorporated SLOC technology into the company’s new IP cameras, which are compatible with Altronix eBridge Ethernet Adapters.
“The benefit of having SLOC technology embedded in Sony IP cameras results in lower equipment and installation costs by eliminating the need to install a separate transceiver at each camera location. Integrators need only to add an Altronix eBridge receiver(s) at the head-end. This represents significant savings, especially in facilities where large numbers of IP cameras are to be deployed,” Forman explained.
“For conventional IP cameras without SLOC technology, an Altronix eBridge CRT receiver/transceiver kit will do the trick. The overall savings can still be substantial comparative to installing CAT5 infrastructure, as well as the costs associated with removing installed coax infrastructure if required to comply with local code,” Forman added.
Each paired set of eBridge1CT Ethernet transceivers and eBridge1CR Ethernet receiver enables 10/100Base-T Ethernet digital communication to be transmitted over coax cable. The plug-and-play eBridge1CRT receiver and transceiver kit accommodates multiple IP cameras and devices over a single coax cable or one IP camera with composite video and data simultaneously.
“Altronix eBridge Ethernet Adapters solve a serious engineering dilemma when designing a video surveillance system upgrade; the new eBridge Ethernet adapters from Altronix make IP-over-coax easy and cost-efficient, bridging analog and IP,” Forman said.
For information, visit www.altronix.com
IP & Cellular Fire Alarm Communicator Gets the ‘OK’ for Government Building Use
Honeywell announced its IP and cellular fire alarm communicator has been found to be compliant with GSA (Government Services Administration) security policies following an extensive evaluation by its Public Building Service (PBS) IT Security Team. This assessment authorizes the use of Honeywell’s IPGSM-DP communicator on the IT networks of U.S. federal government facilities.
With GSA as the main purchasing agent for the U.S. federal government, a successful security evaluation for the IPGSM-DP opens countless opportunities for this technology’s increased reliability and cost-saving benefits within federal government facilities throughout the world, Honeywell said. Brian Sheely, president of Innovative Life Safety Solutions LLC, a Georgia-based integrator, first approached the GSA with this solution to eliminate the costly phone lines traditionally used to monitor fire alarm systems.
“We documented their current expenditures using their own data and were able to show the positive impact these upgrades would have on their operational budget,” Sheely described. “The savings start to snowball pretty quickly for a federal agency that operates and maintains more than 3,500 government buildings worldwide. If pursued, the annual cost savings would prove to be in the millions.”
The IPGSM-DP offers three selectable communications pathways: cellular only, IP only, or IP primary with cellular backup and SMS (Short Message Service) text as secondary backup. Utilizing IP and cellular/GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology together improves the reliability and speed of reporting over single-path technology devices while verifying the connectivity of the primary pathway every 5 minutes, as opposed to once a day when phone lines are employed, Honeywell stated.
According to a GSA Information Systems Security Team member, “The Honeywell IPGSM-DP will be placed on our internal list of products that have completed our assessment and remediation process. GSA project managers often look at the list to see which devices will present the least hurdle to moving their projects forward.”
By simply connecting to the existing ports of a fire alarm control panel’s DACT (digital alarm communicator transmitter), the IPGSM-DP can provide full Contact ID data reporting for virtually any brand of control panel.
“This IP/GSM solution would easily dovetail with several new GSA ‘Smart Buildings’ programs, which include billions of dollars worth of IT network, VoIP and energy management upgrades for all federal buildings,” Sheely said. “We’ll be installing the first IPGSM-DP unit in a federal building in downtown Atlanta within the next few weeks.”
For information, visit www.honeywellpower.com.
Biometric Platform and NFC-Enabled Smartphones Now Interoperable
Iris ID Systems Inc., formerly LG Electronics, Iris Technology Division, and HID Global, announced that the IrisAccess® platform iCAM7000 can be used with select NFC-enabled (Near Field Communications) BlackBerry® 7 smartphones. The BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900/9930 smartphones activated with HID Global’s iCLASS® digital credentials will be compatible with the installed base of iCLASS readers that are embedded in the iCAM 7000 series for applications ranging from physical access systems in buildings to applications that track time and attendance, and other identity-dependent applications.
Using a NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone, the iris templates of a user are securely stored to an iCLASS digital credential on the phone. That credential can be presented for authentication by simply holding the NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone in front of an iCAM7000 series iris camera, just like users do today with a physical iCLASS smart card.
“As a long-time HID Connect® Premier Partner, we are excited to be part of this new implementation which allows iris technology to be coupled with a NFC-enabled smartphone,” said Charles Koo, president and CEO of Iris ID Systems. “This is a key milestone for our identification technology; iris recognition is a perfect solution for providing strong authentication for enterprise security.”
Commented Dr. Tam Hulusi, senior vice president of Strategic Innovation with HID Global, “This is an important milestone in the deployment of mobile access and identity solutions using NFC technology on smartphones. NFC-enabled smartphones represent a complementary new platform that we believe will expand the access control market and our card services business while improving user security and convenience.”
Pilot programs using BlackBerry smartphones activated with iCLASS digital credentials and iris identification are planned for later this year. HID Global expects that its embedded iCLASS technology will be generally available for the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9350/9360 smartphones later this year.
For information, visit www.hidglobal.com and www.irisid.com.
New Service Allows Remote Control of Alarm Systems over Cellular
Uplink announced the launch of Uplink Remote, a new service that provides alarm systems using Uplink cellular communications the capability to remotely control an alarm system through the use of Uplink services and a free Uplink application from the iTunes App Store for iPhones or from Google Marketplace for Android smartphones or by using a computer connected to the Internet.
Uplink Remote will allow alarm system users to remotely view the armed status of the system, and to arm and disarm the system. The service can send emails and text messages of alarm events to users, display 60 days of event history and save the history to a file. Alarm customers also can add and delete users, assign remote arming privileges, or choose to receive notifications only during a defined time period. Encrypted communications and password protection is utilized to ensure the safety and reliability of the service.
Uplink Remote is a service that can be added to new installations or to the systems already equipped with Uplink cellular communicators.
For information, visit www.uplink.com.
Solution to Deliver Flexible, Cost-Effective Wireless Access Control
Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, manufacturer of Schlage® contactless smart credentials and readers, announced that BadgePass customers can leverage Schlage AD-Series wireless locks and intelligent controllers. BadgePass customers also will be able to easily extend their BadgePass solutions to access points such as elevators and parking lots.
“Because the BadgePass system is so flexible, we have been fortunate to implement it in a variety of unique vertical markets,” said Lindsay Cornell, BadgePass dealer manager. “Working with the Schlage AD wireless locks now gives us the ability to add even more flexibility and functionality to our access control solution, letting our customers easily expand and grow their systems as their access control requirements change.”
As a rule of thumb, implementing wireless access control significantly reduces installation time, system costs and disruption to the facility during installation, Ingersoll Rand stated, adding that for these reasons, among others, almost 70 percent of new electronic locking systems now incorporate wireless.
“With Schlage AD-Series wireless savings, security professionals using BadgePass systems can now extend the reach of their card-based solution to applications that previously could not be economically achieved,” emphasized Karen Keating, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies product marketing manager, electronics. BadgePass also has added Schlage’s PIM400-1501 to its product line. With the AD-Series and Mercury’s IP intelligent controller, up to 16 BadgePass wireless locks can be managed with a single IP connection.
For information, visit www.schlage.com and www.badgepass.com.
New HAI Partner Helps Dealers Keep Customers’ Systems Connected Through IP
Home Automation Inc. (HAI) now has a Connectivity Partnership with NextAlarm and its VoIPAlarm product. The VoIPAlarm solution allows the customer’s HAI home control system to call and report alarm activity to a central station over IP for a low monthly service fee. This solution is ideal for customers that don’t have landline service or for customers that have an existing VoIP telephone service that doesn’t properly transmit alarm signals to the central station, HAI stated.
“HAI is excited to give our customers this unique option,” explained Scott Dudoussat, HAI director of Technical Services. “As customers are moving to IP voice services or dropping their analog phone line completely, HAI dealers need the ability to keep their customers’ alarm systems connected.”
To install, simply connect the customer’s HAI alarm panel’s RJ11/31X connection to the phone port on the VoIPAlarm adapter and the Ethernet connection to the customer’s router. Then, let VoIPAlarm know where the signal should be sent. The options include: use the existing number in the panel, provide a new phone number and account ID, or choose from one of VoIPAlarm’s partner stations to send the signal completely in IP. Send a few test signals and the customer has now been transitioned to IP and signals are sent securely to the central station over IP. Additionally, the customer and/or dealer can receive additional alarm notifications via SMS/text, email, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR). All of this capability is available with a low-cost adapter and a low monthly service fee, according to HAI.
“We have many customers using HAI systems, and we’ve always felt that our products are a great fit for each other,” said Alex Elliot, CEO, NextAlarm. “Both product lines focus on cutting-edge, high-tech applications for affordable equipment, and on getting the most out of your security or home automation system.”
For information, visit www.homeauto.com and www.NextAlarm.com.
New 3G & 4G Cellular Communicators From DMP to Come to Market Soon
At its March 27, 2012 Owners Forum event held in Las Vegas, DMP’s CEO Rick Britton announced that dealers could expect both 3G- and 4G-capable digital cellular communicators for DMP panels by mid-summer.
“From our first panels in the ‘80s and throughout our history, DMP has provided our dealers with multiple communication options. Today, we take those options to a new level — offering a choice of cellular technology and a choice of carriers with greater coverage, allowing DMP dealers to install panels on a cellular platform that has no end in sight,” said Rick Britton. “And, as DMP dealers have come to expect, these cellular communicators are backwards-compatible with existing panels, enabling a seamless upgrade to the newest technology available in our industry.”
DMP stated that while the much debated sun setting on 2G technology remains uncertain, its dealers can rest assured that their installations are virtually future-proof. Regardless of whether it occurs or when, the newly announced communicators ensure that DMP panels will incorporate the latest cellular communication technology available.
The new communicators include:
• 263C – CDMA for Sprint or Verizon on the XT Series™ panels
• 463C – CDMA for Sprint or Verizon on the XR Series™ panels
• 263H – HSPA+ 3G/4G for AT&T and T-mobile on the XT Series panels
• 463H – HSPA+ 3G/4G for AT&T and T-mobile on the XR Series panels
For information, visit www.dmp.com.
BlueStar Security Solutions to Partner with ComNet
BlueStar, a global distributor of ADC, mobility, point-of-sale, RFID, digital signage, and security technology solutions, announced a partnership with ComNet, a fiber optic communication and Ethernet product manufacturer.
“This partnership with BlueStar represents a great opportunity for ComNet. BlueStar is well known for providing solutions-based technologies,” said Andrew Acquarulo Jr., ComNet president and COO. “ComNet has a strong presence in the security market, which is only one of the many different markets BlueStar supports. We feel our transmission product suite can be a great value as part of the supply chain, mobility and POS hardware and software solutions BlueStar offers. We are very eager to assist their channel and to provide the transmission portion of their solutions.”
ComNet’s product line consists of fiber optic video, data and audio transmission products as well as a broad Ethernet product line, designed to the specific requirements for controlled access, intrusion, burglar and fire alarms, and CCTV surveillance/incident detection and the intelligent transportation system market.
“BlueStar is excited about partnering with ComNet,” said Andy Rosen, BlueStar’s senior executive manager of convergence technologies. “We believe ComNet’s unique, high-quality fiber optic and Ethernet networking products will enable our resellers to leverage existing infrastructure, saving their customers’ precious time and money.”
For information, visit www.comnet.net and www.bluestarinc.com.
TECH briefs
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has certified Honeywell’s (www.honeywellvindicator.com) newest generation of Vindicator® Command, Control and Display Equipment (CCDE) to protect critical assets at its bases around the globe. The approval requires exhaustive qualification and operational testing and is successfully attained by only a handful of security technology vendors, Honeywell said.
Critical infrastructure sites around the world use Vindicator products as their central hubs for processing and routing security system data to operator displays. This allows operators to use a single workstation to manage security event information gathered from interior and perimeter intrusion, video detection, access control and fire systems.
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CNL Software and BRS Labs Inc. jointly announced a technology partnership between the two companies. The partnership, under the CNL Software’s Technology Alliance Program (TAP), will allow the companies to share development kits, thus creating close integration between their products. The integration will bring together incident analytics with situation management software.
AISight™, created by BRS Labs, is the industry’s first behavioral recognition solution for the video surveillance industry that observes, learns and responds to unusual activity, and memorizes these behavioral patterns as well as objects over a period of time. AISight™ is able to integrate with existing video surveillance infrastructure and identify unusual and suspicious behavioral patterns in real time.
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Moonblink Communications, a value-added distributor delivering wireless and video surveillance solutions, signed a distribution agreement with Firetide, a provider of wireless solutions for video, voice and data applications. With the capability of Firetide’s products to provide concurrent video, voice and data applications over high-performance wireless networks, their solutions are a natural fit into Moonblink’s existing portfolio, the companies jointly stated.
“Firetide has been a consistent leader, and our combined expertise and experience in the video surveillance, public safety, transportation and education markets will provide additional value to our VARs,” stated Daniel Redmond, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Moonblink Communications.
For information about purchasing Firetide solutions from Moonblink, visit www.moonblinkwifi.com/cat-firetide.cfm
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Onity (www.onity.com), a provider of electronic locks, and CANSEC (www.cansec.com), a manufacturer of access control software and hardware products, have collaborated on an integrated locking solution for the commercial industry. CANSEC’s Hurricane access control software now integrates with the Onity Wireless Lock (OWL) using its open architecture interface, and is available through the new Onity Partner Enterprise Network (OPEN) program. Onity is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security.
The OWL lock is available in wireless and offline versions, and helps facilitate decision-making at the door by using an intelligent on-board database. OWL can be upgraded easily to various reader types — HID iClass, MIFARE Classic®, 125 KHz Prox and Magstripe — and from offline to wireless with minimal modification to the lock.
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Milestone Systems (www.milestonesys.com) announced that XProtect® Corporate VMS is now certified for its integration with the Tyco/Software House (www.swhouse.com) C-CURE 9000 Security and Event Management System for access control. With this integration, alarms from the C-Cure 9000 v2.01 system and video from the XProtect Corporate v4.1 VMS are accessible for monitoring from a single user interface inside the C-Cure environment. Software House customers will no longer need to open multiple applications to track alarms and video in system-specific monitors. While the C-Cure 9000 and Milestone XProtect® systems will continue to be maintained and configured separately with their own hardware or software components, the end users will be presented with a solution that has one single, easy-to-use front-end interface, the companies stated.
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PSA Security Network® (www.buy PSA.com) announced the addition of Gem Electronics (www.gemelec.com) as a vendor partner. As a partner, PSA Security now has access to Gem’s full line of coaxial connectors and video baluns that all have been specifically designed to solve CCTV systems’ problems.
The coax connector line includes the Twist-On, Crimp-Crimp Connector, as well as the new Universal and Uni-Crimp BNC products and a complete line of Compression RCA, BNC and F straight and angle plugs and straight jacks. The video balun line has as its core a new line of video/power/data baluns and hubs that will afford a substantially lower UTP system install compared with coax, according to PSA.
