STE Executive Suite
Paul Rothman

by Paul Rothman

  • May issue bonus: Retail Security background checks
    by Paul Rothman - Tuesday May 22, 2012
    Following up on STE’s cover section coverage of retail security , here is some more news for employers in this sector: The federal government has updated the law regarding how certain employers can use criminal background checks in hiring practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which focuses on employment discrimination based on race and national origin. In the update, the EEOC states that: “An employer’s use of an individual’s criminal history in making employment decisions may, in some instances, violate the prohibition against employment discrimination under Title VII.” While Title VII does not prohibit an employer from requiring applicants or...

  • When an FBI Warning is not enough...
    by Paul Rothman - Wednesday May 16, 2012
    I have nothing against the government's efforts to curb piracy, but seriously, one warning is enough -- and the "real" targets aren't even being protected.   According to a recent report from Wired , the Department of Homeland Security AND the National Intellectual Property Center are adding their dreaded "warning labels" to the beginning of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs -- you know, a second and third warning in addition to the often-attempted-but-unsuccessfully-fast-forwarded FBI warning that has been on VHS, DVD and other movies for about as long as I can remember.    Apparently, warnings from the FBI just don't carry the weight that they used to -- as if those warnings actually stop media pirates. Now you can add the two more...

  • Surveillance video "re-digitized" in Trayvon Martin case
    by Paul Rothman - Tuesday April 3, 2012
    I used to scoff when I would watch security-oriented fictional TV shows like 24 and Law & order and they would take a grainy surveillance video and somehow, magically "focus" it so you could make out fine details. These days, fiction has a way of becoming reality. The most electric, emotionally-charged news story of the past couple weeks has been the shooting death of young Trayvon Martin. Last week, the Sanford Police Department released surveillance video of the shooter, George Zimmerman. While the raw video looks a bit fuzzy, ABC News wanted to get a better look at Zimmerman, so they "enhanced" the video with the help of Forensic Protection Inc. , a California video- and audio-enhancement firm. Check it out here . The ABC...

  • Video transmission and storage from the ISC show floor
    by Paul Rothman - Wednesday March 28, 2012
    Roaming the floor at ISC West, I came across a few companies that were touting new and improved video transmission, networking and storage products – fast-growing segments of the security industry that are being partially fueled by the IP transition. Altronix, a company long known for its video and device power supply products, has entered the video networking space with its eBridge, which can transmit IP video and data over coaxial cable more than 2,000 feet without the need for repeaters. "Customers have been asking for a product like this," Altronix's Kirby Han said. The transmission product spurred a three-way technology collaboration among Altronix, Intersil and Sony to create the hybrid solution. In fact Sony cameras...

  • Convergence gets its own 'Pavilion' at ISC show
    by Paul Rothman - Tuesday March 13, 2012
    Security Technology Executive readers are no strangers to convergence. That why when I received a press release announcing a "Convergence Pavilion" on the floor at ISC West, I knew it would pique your interest!   If you are an avid reader of STE columnist Ray Bernard , or if you are simply interested in learning more about using IT Security solutions in conjunction with your physical security equipment, this should be one of your stops on the show floor.   Hosted by IT products distributor Ingram Micro Inc., and its North America Physical Security Business Unit -- a first-time exhibitor at ISC -- the 20,000-square-foot Convergence Pavilion will feature a number of technology vendors and solutions-oriented demonstration...