Now this is how you do media

I've often harped here that security companies need to do a better job of using the media for their own devices. Far too often, criminals are apprehended with thanks to "the security company."

But this news report shows you just how the media can get a good story at the same time you get a fine sales tool. And because it's being done by an independent news house, iVerify and ioimage get great validation. No doubt other construction firm owners were quickly googling the two firms after seeing this:



It's funny, because this kind of site security seems so obvious with today's technology, yet a phone conversation I had with the people at Vidient has made me think about where the market is really at with analytics and perimeter protection. Vidient has decided to focus on the perimeter security market for its analytics product, generally to the exclusion of other applications. I asked why they would want to limit themselves in that way, when integrators are perfectly capable of coming up with interesting applications for their technology. Vidient sort of disagreed, saying that most integrators needed to be shown how and where to use the analytics, and pointing out that very few new sites are using analytics and video for their perimeter protection.

I'd love to see numbers, though I doubt they exist, of how many new facilities are using things like motion detectors and trip wires to the exclusion of analytics and video. Is it true that people still don't trust, or still don't know how to implement analytics for perimeter protection, where it's pretty much a no-brainer? Or does Vidient underestimate the market's advancement?

More sleeping guards

I'm busy-busy getting our paper out today (not that you care), but wanted to post yet another sleeping guards story. You guys dishing video analytics have yet another sales piece.

(EDIT: That link is fixed now - sorry.)

These guys weren't just lazy, they tried hard at being lazy:

NRC investigators determined that, on multiple occasions during that time, securtity officers at Turkey Point were inattentive to duty or served as lookouts so other officers could sleep on duty.

Though it's the power plant getting fined...

Can I get an analytics salesman on the phone?

I'm sure everybody's heard about the most recent troubles at Heathrow airport, including yesterday's event, where a man scaled a fence and waltzed onto the runway before being challenged and then arrested.

Where, oh where, is the security industry in all of this? The mainstream media and government officials are being allowed to spout all manner of wrongness and no one in the security industry is being interviewed or offering their two cents. This is the perfect time, whether you're in Europe or in Kansas, to offer up guest editorials or offer yourselves as technology and systems experts.

Just look at this bit:

Gordon Brown, the prime minister, said he was satisfied everything was being done to ensure security at Heathrow. Speaking after arriving at an EU summit in Brussels, he said: "I think the important thing about the Heathrow incident is that the person was detained, that all the security precautions went quickly into action ... and that all possible steps were taken so that when this incident happened the arrest took place. And I'm satisfied everything is now being done to ensure security at Heathrow is intact. We are determined to protect all passengers and all staff who go through Heathrow and every other airport in the country."

What? Is this guy on crack? A man was allowed to walk right under a passenger airplane carrying a backpack! Hey, England, you got lucky. All possible steps were not taken in any way, shape, or form. There are some very inexpensive (relatively) solutions that would have alerted you the moment somebody started climbing the fence. Remember when I wrote about Optellios at ASIS? Heathrow just opened a $8.6 billion terminal. They couldn't pony up a bit more for some fiberoptic cable and some software to make sure their perimeter was secure?

Or how about some off-the-shelf perimeter analytics? Anybody can do fenceline nowadays. There would have been buzzers going off like no tomorrow in the central command center at Heathrow as soon as that guy got within 10 feet of the fence and he never would have made the tarmac.

I have major reservations about the people in charge of aviation security in England after reading the following:

The former head of security at BAA, Norman Shanks, said a higher fence would not prevent further incursions and a serious clampdown on intruders would require sophisticated motion-sensor technology.

A number of systems are available or under development, including CCTV technology that detects irregular movement. However, such a move would increase the cost of a Heathrow security bill that has risen by tens of millions of pounds since the liquid bombs scare in 2006.

The perimeter at Heathrow is jointly patrolled by BAA security staff and the Metropolitan police. One aviation expert said it had not changed since the September 11 2001 attacks on the United States which showed al-Qaida's continued fascination with attacking aviation.

A BAA spokesman said: "If there are lessons to be learned, they will be learned."

A higher fence? Seriously? "Sophisticated motion-sensor technology"? What's wrong with that? You just spent $8.6 billion! There's wasn't $1,000,000 (and that's just an arbitrary large number - no way it would have cost that much) for some perimeter security? "CCTV technology that detects irregular movement"? Seriously, the security industry needs to be out there educating the general population about what's available. If the mainstream public knew about the technologies, and their relative affordability, they would not stand for a perimeter system at the largest airport in England going un-upgraded since 2001. That's borderline criminal.

This is why analytics seem so attractive

Wondering why analytics seem like such a good idea? See this story. The big question is whether alarm events can programmed to produce small electronic charges.

Getting home

Normally, I'm a big fan of Jet Blue. I mean, who doesn't like to be able to watch football games in-flight on DirectTV? But getting home from ASIS on Thursday was an adventure. First, the plane was delayed out of Vegas. Rumors are that Dick Cheney was coming into town, and that disrupts everything. Then, when we get to JFK, the Blue tells 14 of us that we've missed the last flight up to Portland, so tough noogies. Sweet.

Luckily, the regional rep for DSX not only was down with the plan to fly to Boston instead and drive up, but his fiancee actually drove down from Portland to pick us up. Completely cool.

The result? I walked in the door at 4 a.m. I'm sure everybody coming back east had similar experiences. What a kick in the teeth.

Anyway, I've got to say that ASIS really seemed to be hopping this year. Partnerships were being announced every minute. Analytics companies were slandering each other like there was no tomorrow. I'd love to hear which company you think has the best analytic bang for the buck. I sure had my head spinning listening to all the claims, most of which seemed to be backed up with little red and yellow boxes dancing across screens. Gotta say, Cernium did a nice job on that front, but ObjectVideo was in every booth, it seemed.

How much business was done in Vegas? It's hard to say, obviously, but the aisles seemed busy and the front of the hall at times was very crowded. Those guys back in row 100? They might have been less than pleased with the flow.

All in all, I think the show was worth my time and that those companies I did have a chance to speak with all took the opportunity seriously and had good stories to tell. There was very little smoke being blown, and that's as good a sign as any of a healthy industry.

Now, back to work.