SecurityInfoWatch.com Blogs

Ok, a few things we know about electronic security products…

1. They all reach a point at which they are outdated.
2. Security products are less likely to be updated than traditional business electronic products like copiers and PCs.
3. Most business don’t see much of a financial reason to replace their existing security devices (sensors, cameras, etc.) if those devices still function (no matter how crippled those devices might be).
4. Most electronic products features a full array of heavy metals, which means you shouldn’t just throw them in the trash.
5. Keeping current with technology has its own benefits (no one has to keep that Windows 95 machine running; new technology more likely to be compatible with upgrades, integration, better ability to monitor and respond swiftly, etc.)

So, does that mean we are ripe for a company like TechForward or ecoNEW to come in? The idea on these companies is you get money back for trading in your old electronics, and they go out and resell/reuse/recycle the equipment. The goal is to 1) drive new technology sales and 2) keep nasty electronics (where you’ll find all manners of ugly heavy metals that can pollute water supplies) out of landfills.

My take: Such a company could probably do well for the foreseeable future in the security industry, as major market changes like a push for integration, the advent of networked security products (IP cameras, NVRs) and other market factors drive the move to replace legacy equipment.

Just think of all the old VHS tape recorders that could have been recycled when the DVR started to become so popular…

-Geoff

Every morning before I run out the door I do a quick check for three important items–do I have my wallet, keys, and cell phone?  I’ve made it a pretty good habit and it’s rare that I’ll forget one of them (although I did forget to wear a belt to work yesterday, which was kinda embarrassing, so maybe I should add that to my morning checklist). 

On a serious note, most of us aren’t looking to add to our checklist of things to take with us everyday.  Instead, we’d like to simplify our life with fewer things to remember.  Interestingly enough, cell phones seem to have great potential for not only empowering people on the go, but also for reducing the number of things we need to carry. We’ve already seen MP3 players and cameras migrate to cell phones (and TV has also migrated to cell phones in countries like Japan), but more could be on the way. For instance, wouldn’t it be nice if your cell phone could take the place of you keys?  Well, it could be closer than we think…

Last week Dr. Nick Willis, CEO, ECKey Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand, and Ken Erickson, U.S. Business Development Manager, came into my Chicagoland office to visit wtih some editors in the security industry (Deborah O’Mara, Gale Johnson, and me).  They introduced to us a new product that they will be launching at ISC West and entering in the SIA New Product Showcase.  Essentially, this product is a 2-inch Bluetooth reader and relay which could theoretically be integrated with any existing electrified lock. 

There will be various versions of ECKey available eventually, but the one demonstrated in the office was $269, can register up to 20 Bluetooth-enabled devices (such as cell phones or PDAs, etc.), and it doesn’t require any software to be installed on the Bluetooth device. (Bluetooth is a wireless technology currently on more than one billion devices worldwide.) Once your phone is registered, then whenever it gets within a certain range of the reader–a variable that you can set between 1m and 15m–then your phone will “unlock” the door like a proximity card (a higher-end “smart card” version is in the works).  Also, it should be noted this device essentially works like an on/off switch, so it could also be used to disable your own alarm system when you arrive.

 
Pictured above: Dr. Nick Willis demonstrates ECKey on an electronic lock and how he can change various parameters from his laptop.

Willis said he got the idea for ECKey after observing how “everything is going onto the cell phone.”  He figured the next logical step was for our keys to migrate to the cell phone, and so he got to work programming the solution.  He noted that the market for Bluetooth technology is strong and growing, and despite the fact that Apple purposely diminished Bluetooth’s capabilities on their new iPhone, ECKey still works with the iPhone because its interactions are on the lowest layers of software.

The demonstration given by Willis and Erickson in the office worked pretty well.  However, as with all new products, it takes a while to see how effective they are in the real world.  We’ll keep an eye on the ECKey.  It should be interesting to watch.   

-Greg

Called “Spy vs. Spy”, Doug Frantz’s article in this month’s (January ‘08) edition of Portfolio magazine is a good read for corporate security professionals. He tackles the increased usage of ex-CIA agents by corporate risk and investigation/audit departments.

From the ability to study behavioural cues, to the ability to simply wear out a pair of shoes and use their “Company” trained tactics to find information corporate executives need, Frantz gets into the trend of government trained security and intelligence agents earning more money for similar work in private corporations.

You may have already missed the issue at the newsstand, but you can find the article available online at Portfolio.com.

-Geoff

On the site, we sometimes report about the dumb criminals who make security’s job easier. To that, we add this report from an attempted robbery at a Brink’s cash handling facility. I hope he remembered to smile when his mug shot was taken:

http://www.nbc10.com/news/15071752/detail.html

-Geoff

One of the biggest movements in building is toward green and energy efficient premises that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) goals. Part of this program, which provides credits and various project certification rating categories, includes lighting and energy efficient building operations.

Does security have a part in this green movement?  You bet!

If you’re not familiar, the LEED program is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, D.C., see www.usgbc.org. The LEED Green Building Rating System™ promotes the use and adoption of sustainable green building and development and it’s based on overall building performance. It’s definitely the future.  Overall, LEED buildings lower operating costs and increase value. They also have less impact on the environment and use fewer natural resources, cradle to grave.
Green building is shaping the future of smart and intelligent building and is the place to be, especially for an integrated systems expert.

For example, sensors can control doors and HVAC and cameras and lighting and more and soon will all be tied into earning credits for LEED. LEED is flexible and structured as such that products and services meet various categories of sustainability.

Maybe the security industry should be pursuing green building more and working with USGBC on further recognition of its products.  Talk it up to USGBC. For example, wireless doesn’t require trenching so there is less digging and disturbing existing infrastructures. Proximity can be used not only to gain access, but shut down occupancy sensors after a preset time in which it is recognized that the person or occupant is no longer in the building.  Automated controls can open shades and draperies when daylighting is present, putting less strain on electricity and lighting. Did you know that the lion’s share of facilities costs are from lighting, and further, that lighting may even increase the heat in the building, causing further use of air conditioning?

Look at the big picture. Security products and integrated and automated controls have so many fits. Try it on for size and get on board the green building movement. –Deborah L. O’Mara, editor, Security Dealer & Integrator

Last month, another company announced that it would be upcharging its alarm monitoring subscribers who wanted to have their alarm systems monitored over broadband. News to companies considering this: The phone line is dead, at least for families in their 20s and 30s. They want Vonage or another IP telephony provider, and they want all their data to come in and leave from their broadband connection, and that includes data from their home alarm systems.

Frankly, it pains me to think that some companies are going to charge more for alarm signals to come in via a Web connection. Maybe this is a temporary fee, as monitoring stations upgrade their equipment to Internet-connected systems, but if I had to predict, I’d say that monitoring companies won’t be able to collect this fee for very long before a competitor offers monitoring with no upcharge for broadband. In fact, it’s not hard to envision a future when the tables could be fully turned and POTS monitoring costs more than broadband-connected monitoring.

-Geoff

Happy New Year, blog readers. Here’s hoping 2008 is going to be good to you!

It’s already looking pretty good for me. A copy of Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista (Author: Paul McFedries, Publisher: QUE) arrived this week and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s a decent book to keep on hand for training security technicians who need to learn the basics of networking and configuring Windows Vista computers.

The education in McFedries’ book covers hardware basics likes NICs, network-attached storage, and switches/routers, and provides equal time to “soft” issues like MAC address configurations and wireless 802.11 standards. The first two or three chapters could be a standalone, tidy resource to bring your team up to speed on networking basics. As a bonus, there’s a glossary in the back that’s great for team members who don’t know their NAS from their NAT.

Because the intended readers is likely a home user who has never built a small computer network before (and sometimes it is as if the author is writing for people who have never used a PC before!), there are sections on using Windows Vista to set up basic websites and FTP sites. You can probably skip those, and you can also skip the chapter on using your Vista computer as an entertainment media hub. The book includes some guides to configuring and purchasing networking hardware, however these are again aimed at the home office type of user.

In summary: the book is a decent starting point to educate yourself and others about networking; but don’t send anyone out into the field until they’ve mastered a lot more than could ever be covered in this book.

One caveat: Despite the extreme beginner “angle” that this text sometimes chooses, there are things to learn here. Personally, I was interested in the author’s note that the IEEE is already working on a standard for 100 gigabit networking, and while Gigabit networks are becoming the de facto choice, the 10 gigabit (10GBase-T) systems are already outstarting to get a little bit of a draw despite their expense.

Final call: One thumb up (for most security pros who already have at least some understanding of networks), but two thumbs up if you have a staff member who needs to know the real basics of networking PCs and ethernet-connected devices.

-Geoff