The newest company in the security space to get into the video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) business is Dallas-based Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, which introduced the new cloud-based service at ISC West 2013. The service enables end-users in small to medium commercial facilities to simplify the integration of video surveillance by moving it from on-site locations to a cloud-based service model, scale over time to fit their business needs, and ensure system reliability to eliminate downtime. The service provides users with real-time event notification, video alarm verification, remote employee monitoring and offsite video storage, which Schneider Electric said assists an end user’s staff to respond more effectively to events and creates opportunities for operational efficiencies that go beyond security.

“As companies continue to look for ways to make security a priority, while also striving for operational excellence, cloud-based video management is increasingly becoming a popular option to decrease costs and better manage the complexity of deploying video surveillance technology and monitoring access anytime, anywhere,” said Jim Sandelin, senior vice president, Buildings Business, Schneider Electric. “This solution provides users with advantages that are simply not available in traditional video surveillance systems, adding business intelligence to security.”

For example, key features of the VSaaS solution include:

• Continuous Off-Site Video Recording (COVR™): Provides users with 24/7 recorded video, with instant access to both historic and live video.
• Video event notification and scheduled video tours: Alerts security personnel directly of real-time breaches and alarms, providing video pre- and post-event. Also aids in the reduction of false alarm dispatch, and allows security personnel to provide an accurate scene description to authorities. Scheduled video tours allow for surveillance of the facility to be conducted remotely, without having to dispatch a security officer to complete a walking tour.
• LiveView and MultiView: Security, facility and other authorized employees can access video at a moment’s notice from anywhere via standard Internet browser or compatible Android, Apple (iPhone/iPad) and Blackberry devices.

The Schneider Electric VSaaS solution extends beyond security, allowing facility managers to utilize the system to create business efficiencies, as well. For example, a retailer can simplify and reduce maintenance by having a cloud solution in place to monitor multiple systems from one location through a PC or smartphone and scale the system as the business expands and security monitoring needs evolve.

The Schneider Electric VSaaS solution is the latest offering from Schneider Electric’s Security Center of Excellence, a single source for best-in-class integrated security solutions for customers. The solution is currently available through Schneider Electric branches and the company’s channel partners.

For information, visit www.schneider-electric.com/us.

Tech Briefs

Samsung Techwin America has taken its association with PSA Security Network to the next level. The PSA network of more than 200 systems integrators will have access to the entire Samsung Techwin video surveillance product line.

This relationship provides Samsung Techwin America with a more comprehensive national footprint through the PSA cooperative sales channel and facilitates open access to Samsung’s portfolio of video surveillance and security solutions. With this arrangement, the companies stated, new business development opportunities can be explored for both organizations.

“PSA’s goal is to ensure our reseller network has access to the industry’s leading solutions and our relationship with Samsung fulfills that goal,” said Bill Bozeman, president and CEO, PSA Security Network.

Exacq products are now available to Tri-Ed’s customers throughout the entire United States and Canada. Exacq Technologies Inc. is a developer of open-architecture VMS solutions for security and surveillance applications. The company’s exacqVision VMS client-server solutions are scalable from a small, single-camera solution to large-scale corporate or campus systems with thousands of cameras. Real-time and recorded video can be viewed, managed and configured from any location on the network.

“We’re very pleased to expand our partnership with Exacq as a valued supplier partner,” said Pat Comunale, president and chief operating officer for Tri-Ed Distribution. “Exacq’s state-of-the-art products are an ideal complement to Tri-Ed’s comprehensive offering of IP video solutions.”

Tech Briefs

Linear LLC now offers Spanish language live support for both its Technical Service and Customer Service departments. In an effort to better serve the growing Spanish-speaking community in the U.S. and in the expanding Mexican and South American markets, Linear has assigned four Spanish-speaking agents in each department, with expansion planned as needed.

“At Linear, we believe in providing the best customer service and technical support to all our clients and partners. Mexico, South America and Spanish-speaking Americans represent an important customer base for Linear and our bilingual representatives are already standing by to answer technical or service-related questions,” described Greg Hancock, director of customer care at Linear.

Linear said Spanish-language support is an important step as it expands into Latin America.

ScanSource® Security, a value-added distributor of physical security products and a business unit of ScanSource Inc. added Pivot3® Inc., a supplier of video surveillance and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) Serverless Storage Appliances, to its line card. Through this agreement, ScanSource Security acknowledged that it becomes Pivot3’s first and only distribution partner.

By offering Pivot3’s scale-out storage appliances, ScanSource Security’s resellers have access to failover-protected virtual machines inside an IP SAN, which eliminates the cost, power and rack space of physical servers, the company said.

This partnership serves as a foundation for Pivot3’s channel strategy, which includes implementing a new partner program and developing additional tools and benefits to better enable channel partners to sell, implement and maintain Pivot3 solutions, according to the company.

DMP Panels Earn CSFM Listing;  More Panel Options for Household Fire

DMP earned the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) listing for the XR150/XR350/XR550 Series control panels.

The 32-bit processors allow the new panels operate at 20 times the speed of the older DMP XR500 panels, with 10/100 Ethernet auto-sensing that always ensures the fastest-possible network connection, the company described. The XR150|XR350|XR550 offers 142, 374, or 574 zones, respectively with a choice or net/cell/dialer. According to DMP, they deliver powerful access control capabilities, and dealers will be impressed by the speed improvement and enhanced scheduling in the panels.

The XR150|XR350|XR550 panels include built-in LX buses, so there is no need to purchase or install additional cards for panel expansion.  In addition, all three panels offer enhanced access control features, including 99 programmable schedules for areas, doors, profiles, outputs and Z-Wave® favorites.

The optional plug-on CDMA Verizon and HSPA+ AT&T cellular communicators allow for MyAccess™, the DMP App, and central station connections. DMP’s exclusive Adaptive Technology™ and the availability of up to eight communication paths provide a multi-level communication.

Both MyAccess and the DMP App provide dealers with new RMR opportunities by offering value-added features and related cellular panel connection.

 For information, visit www.dmp.com/XR550.