Contactless 3D fingerprint scanning technology designed for the real world VOLUME 28 | ISSUE 7 2022 The authoritative resource for physical and converged security
www.securitysa.com Issue 7 2022 1 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 7 2022 Surveillance solutionism is not a solution Five ways to grow your security installation business Residential estate security conference 2022 Smart energy Dr Craig Donald says the concept of surveillance solutionism has been used in the context of other types of surveillance, but related to CCTV it most often reflects concerns over privacy, human rights protections and unwarranted surveillance. The first Residential Estate Security Conference since March 2020 attracted a full house and discussed the people, technology and processes involved in mitigating risks to deliver smart, secure living. Running your security installation business is hard. Growing it is harder. Finding time to work on the strategic stuff as well as the operational stuff can be tricky. Whether it’s a candle or solar panels on the roof, ensuring the lights stay on when Eskom fails is something every South African is focused on these days. Editor’s note.............................................2 News & events.......................................3 Entrance control solutions.......... 32 Our cover: Biometrics deliver added benefits to residential estates For years, South African estates have enjoyed the convenience and security of contact biometric technologies, and now IDEMIA offers contactless options ideal for access control and much more, delivering security, trusted identity and convenience to residential estates all over South Africa. Contactless 3D fingerprint scanning technology designed for the real world VOLUME 28 | ISSUE 7 2022 The authoritative resource for physical and converged security 10 12 14 30
2 Issue 7 2022 www.securitysa.com Andrew from the editor’s desk LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor should be addressed to Andrew Seldon at [email protected]. Sending material to this publication will be considered automatic permission to use in full or in part in our Letters column. Be sure to include your name, e-mail address, city and postal code. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Disclaimer While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements, inserts and company contact details areprinted as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing(Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, adapted, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd, Reg No. 2005/034598/07 Editor Andrew Seldon: [email protected] Contributors Dr Craig Donald Charles Freedman Advertising sales Tracy Wolter: [email protected] Heidi Hargreaves: [email protected] Subscription Services For address changes, orders, renewal status or missing issues, e-mail: [email protected] Design and layout: Technews Production Department Published by Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd 1st Floor, Stabilitas, 265 Kent Avenue, Randburg Box 385, Pinegowrie 2123 Tel: +27 11 543 5800 ISSN 1562-952X Subscribe online: www.technews.co.za HI-TECH SECURITY SOLUTIONS ISSUE 7 2022 Welcome to Hi-Tech Security Solutions Issue 7. We have slightly fewer topics in focus in this issue because the bulk of the editorial covers one topic, the Residential Estate Security Conference 2022. The conference was held on 18 October in Fourways, Johannesburg, and it proved just the ticket for locked-up people. It turns out that humans are social beings and we were wonderfully surprised when we filled every seat available in the conference centre. While lockdowns and masks have been quickly and happily forgotten, this was the first conference Hi-Tech Security Solutions has held in a long time where there were no masks, no COVID protocols and nobody running around with hand sanitiser. It seems people just enjoyed being able to get together and interact normally. Of course, the presentations were well prepared and presented, and we have a brief summary of them later in the publication (or at a link near you if you’re reading this online – try www.securitysa.com/17836r). Sadly, despite the space the conference review takes up, we could only get the basics of what the presenters delivered down on paper, but there were a few interesting surprises along the way. There were also some interesting prizes up for grabs just before the lunch break. Due to my waffling, the presentations are not in the same order in the article that they were on the day. Our production team had to juggle things around and throw in a few images to make everything fit nicely and look Social beings good. However, I think I captured the gist of each presentation and they definitely pulled it together very well. We had a full house of sponsors at the event as well. For the first time I can recall we had to turn some potential sponsors away because there was no space for them. To give credit where it’s due, we asked the sponsors to provide us with a short half-page of information about their offerings post-event, which is printed after the review. Hi-Tech Security Solutions thanks all the delegates for attending and for their questions after the presentations. We are also grateful to our sponsors (Allbro, Arteco Global, Elvey Group, IDEMIA, Impro Technologies, MiRO, Nemtek, Nice SA, Optex and Stafix Security Centres) for the time and effort they put into their displays and for being ‘on duty’ the whole day. Our speakers also deserve a medal for their work and delivery – despite the technology failures carefully calculated to happen at the worst time. And my personal thanks goes to the Hi-Tech Security Solutions team who seem to pull rabbits out of thin air these days (because I lost the hat). The Residential Estate Security Conference will be venturing into the wilds of KZN early next year with an eye on the Cape Winelands (or according to our directors, Cape Town) soon thereafter. We hope to see you there.
NEWS & EVENTS SALTO Systems offers smart access technology to businesses for a complete smart building experience. Now the company has announced it is offering other best-inclass technology leaders the opportunity to partner with it for an integrated and improved customer offering. SALTO’s Technology Partner Programme empowers best-in-class technology companies to link into its access control technology platforms and integrate and certify their solutions within SALTO’s smart locking product portfolio. The company is looking for third-party systems to integrate with its smart access technology architecture with the aim of improving any type of facility’s operations in terms of efficiency, flexibility and security. Its aim is to provide partners and customers with the ultimate smart, keyless living experience. Technology partners will benefit from these integrations by delivering comprehensive solutions that unite smart access control, security, building automation, software, property management software, operations and more in an all-in-one integrated technology platform. In a nutshell, by partnering with SALTO, companies can offer improved access control solutions for their customers and overall operations enhancements for complete building management. Through the SALTO Technology Programme, partners will have access to the following solutions: • Smart access experience, delivering seamless, keyless building experiences to users. • Wireless technology for electronic locking solutions via an on-premises network or the cloud. • Mobile device access and digital key solutions. • Secure and robust performance across all products. SALTO’s two main solutions SALTO was the early leader in cloud-based access control technology and has become a major player as a keys-as-a-service provider over traditional access control solutions, accelerating digital access transformation projects. The SALTO portfolio now includes software management, cloud solutions and mobile applications for businesses of all types and sizes. • SALTO Space: Technology partners can benefit from SALTO’s standalone, networked, wired and wireless online smart SALTO launches integrated Technology Partner Programme access control platform. SALTO Space is a fully integrated, standalone wire-free smartlocking platform and web-based software management system that brings seamless access to every door in any building in an efficient, flexible, safe and secure way. • SALTO KS: For a truly unique offering, SALTO’s technology partners can make use of a scalable and flexible cloud-based smart access control solution with realtime capabilities. SALTO KS offers proven reliability and recognised stability for technology partners. This service provides higher functionality and performance than what is possible with a traditional mechanical key access solution. The SALTO KS cloud-based access control product range offers a flexible solution that requires no software installation, with remote management capabilities and endless integration possibilities. SALTO Systems offers solutions across a range of industries, including commercial, healthcare, hospitality, retail, co-working, shared living spaces, corporate smart offices, fitness centres and gyms, and residential. Its current partnerships include a broad range of integrated systems such as property management systems, check-in solutions, mobile apps, CCTV security cameras and video surveillance, intercoms, room management systems, time and attendance, booking, management software, visitor/ identity management, elevator/lift control and point-of-sale software. Technology partners can look forward to becoming a SALTO certified technology partner to deliver even more innovation for their brands, bringing their customers more in the keyless living experience. For more information contact SALTO Systems Africa, +27 87 701 5858, [email protected], www.saltosystems.com
4 Issue 7 2022 www.securitysa.com NEWS & EVENTS Suprema has launched BioStation 3, a contactless access control terminal specialised for facial recognition in the post-COVID era. BioStation 3 is a next-generation access control solution integrating Suprema’s 20 years of expertise in access control and authentication-related technologies. In addition to facial recognition – the representative contactless authentication method of the post-COVID era – various other contactless credential options are offered to enhance user convenience, including QR codes, barcodes, mobile access cards and RFID cards. BioStation 3 features increased usability and a compact, slim body that is reduced in size by 47% compared to Suprema’s predecessor, FaceStation F2, allowing for easy installation on any door, from small offices to enterprise environments. In addition, Suprema has continued to maintain its position as an industry leader by adopting the most advanced AI processor – a neural processing unit (NPU) – to provide the best facial authentication performance available today. BioStation 3 is an advanced edge device that can run AI algorithms locally with an embedded NPU to maximise the performance of the AI engine. Accurate authentication is possible even for faces with various types and colours of masks, hairstyles, hats and glasses. Moreover, as the importance of biometric and personal information protection is increasing, BioStation 3 is certified to ISO/IEC 27001 – an international standard that helps organisations manage the security of their information – and is designed to comply with GDPR, one of the world’s strictest privacy regulations. One of the initiatives in protecting personal data is ‘Face Template on Mobile’, a first in the industry, which is an authentication method independently developed by Suprema that allows users to store and manage their facial authentication template on their mobile phone without having to store it in the company’s database. “BioStation 3 is a product that integrates all of Suprema’s innovative technologies so that everyone around the world can conveniently and safely control and manage all kinds of doors in the post-pandemic world,” said Suprema CEO, Hanchul Kim. “With BioStation 3, Suprema will set a new standard in access control and provide a unique customer experience.” For more information contact Suprema, +27 11 784 3952, [email protected], www.suprema.co.za Suprema launches BioStation 3 The ESDA Annual Charity Fundraiser, part of the Electronic Security Distributors Association’s Golf Day, was held at the Benoni Lake Golf Course on 21 September 2022. COVID-19 restrictions did not allow ESDA to host its fundraising drive in 2020 and 2021, but the event was back with a bang this year. This year, the nominated recipient for all proceeds raised was the Gift of the Givers Foundation. The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest non-governmental disaster response organisation of African origin on the African continent, and has done much for local communities in need. Xarion Comoretto, the chairman of ESDA, says the day was a great success with golf, dinner and many prizes for the players. He offers his thanks to all who participated and made the day a great success. ESDA golf day a success Fotech has launched two next-generation Helios DAS systems. Fotech’s DAS technology turns fibre-optic cables into thousands of sensors to enable continuous, uninterrupted and real-time monitoring around the clock. The new Helios DAS TL4 (single-channel) and Helios DAS TX4 (dualchannel) interrogators deliver lower false alarm rates and enhanced monitoring and incident detection. They incorporate new machine learning capabilities which allow for faster, cost-effective and more systematic deployment of solutions in long, linear assets such as pipelines and perimeters. Pedro Barbosa, senior product manager at Fotech, says, “The new Helios DAS TL4 and Helios DAS TX4 interrogators take monitoring of pipelines, critical infrastructure and perimeters to the next level. The machine learning that is built into them means they deliver exceptional accuracy with a much-reduced false alarm rate.” The new Helios DAS TL4 and Helios DAS TX4 include Nvidia GPUaccelerated computing to provide advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning and edge computing capabilities, which enables them to process data in real time – much more quickly than previous systems. Next-generation monitoring and detection In turn, this speed enables faster deployment in the field, ensuring that accidental or malicious threats are dealt with quickly. Users benefit from both single and dual channels so they have access to valuable data over distances of up to 100 km from one unit. The two new products are smaller and lighter than previous versions, weighing only 13 kg. They can be handled and installed easily by one person and take up less space in racks. The new Helios interrogators have a lower power requirement compared to older versions (165 W), so users save on energy costs. For more information visit https://www.fotech.com/blog/next-generation-monitoring-and-detection-from-fotech/
suPrema Suprema Distribution AFRICA SECURITY & BIOMETRICS nOOMetrics www.suprema.co.za I neaMetrics (Pty) Ltd. Telephone: 0860 787 736 I International: +27 (0)11 784 3952 I E-mail: [email protected]
6 Issue 7 2022 www.securitysa.com NEWS & EVENTS Global electronic key and equipment solutions provider, Traka, will be launching its nextgeneration key management systems in 2023, which will provide enhanced security, serviceability and traceability for its clients and resellers. In addition to the global launch, Traka Africa has “aggressive expansion plans” for the next five years, during which time the company will be focusing on further expanding into subSaharan Africa. The continued market sector presence in South Africa will remain in the mining, banking, automotive, healthcare, critical infrastructure and data centre sectors. “We intend to achieve this via our partner network and experience centre, which serves as a hub for knowledge sharing, training, support and, most importantly, collaboration between our clients and partners. We are continually innovating and adding new features and functionality to our TrakaWEB and Traka Touch technologies, ensuring our clients recognise value and a real return on their investment,” the company’s new GM, Mark Stoop, says. Traka Africa (which is part of the ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions division) was formed in 2001 and boasts an employee count of 32, with over 400 employees in Traka ASSA ABLOY worldwide. Better process control and audit reporting from Traka The current load shedding implemented by electricity utility Eskom, as it faces a shortage of generation capacity due to a combination of maintenance and unplanned breakdowns, poses a heightened fire risk for homeowners and their families, warns ASP Fire CEO, Michael van Niekerk. This follows a recent media report of an Eastern Cape family of seven losing everything when a fire engulfed their house after their electricity was restored following load Fire-safety risks during load shedding The company offers a host of solutions, including asset management for laptops, mobile phones, tablets, radios, gas detection instruments and explosives process control; as well as the TrakaWEB enterprise software platform – a standalone or centralised management systemwhich has more than 2000 systems installed globally. Traka offers turnkey professional services, through which the company ensures that all installed systems are “professionally installed and maintained.” Stoop says the company’s value proposition focuses on accountability, operational efficiency and transparency, audit and reporting capabilities, as well as delivering a tangible return on investments. This is critical, he adds, considering that clients need reliability, flexibility, and research and development capabilities provided by a recognised brand that “has the ability to locally support technologies it delivers.” Over the course of the next 12 months, Traka Africa is anticipating that the mining sector will see an improvement in the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s compliance documentation process, as well as improved management of critical asset investments. “Traka Africa will be driving better process control with comprehensive audit reporting as it continues to integrate with existing systems, like access control, to provide better control, efficiency and seamless operation through a central platform,” Stoop concludes. For more information contact Traka Africa, +27 11 761 5000, [email protected], www.traka.com shedding. The family of seven was forced to flee, seeking refuge in a rondavel. [1] Van Niekerk urges all homeowners to put basic fire-risk mitigation measures in place to protect both their families and properties. The first thing homeowners need to do in the event of load shedding is to ensure all power sources are switched off. “This might sound like common sense, but it is very easy to forget to do so when the power goes off unexpectedly and your home is suddenly plunged into darkness.” Another risk factor is using candles as a light source, which need to be extinguished immediately once the power supply is restored. Homeowners need to ensure that candles are positioned correctly so that, if they fall over, they do not pose a fire risk. Any candles must be placed in proper containers to prevent this from happening. Van Niekerk advises homeowners to invest in a small fire extinguisher for the home and to ensure all residents not only know where it is placed so it can be accessed readily in darkness, but that everyone in the home knows how to operate it effectively in the event of a fire. Fire-prevention legislation tends to focus on commercial and retail spaces rather than standalone residential dwellings, where there is no regulatory requirement to have fire extinguishers, hose reels or even automatic sprinklers installed, which is also prohibitive from a cost point of view. However, van Niekerk urges homeowners to have some fire prevention strategy in place, even if it just means having a fire extinguisher located at a central point such as a garage. Homeowners are increasingly opting for backup gensets to supplement grid power in the event of load shedding, but these pose their own safety and risk issues. “If the power goes out and you switch your genset on, only to find that it is out of fuel, for example, the last thing you want to do is attempt to refill that genset while it is running, or while the engine or exhaust is hot, as this poses a serious risk of causing a fire as the genset can cause the fuel to combust,” cautions van Niekerk. Reference [1] https://www.news24.com/news24/ southafrica/news/family-loses-everythingin-house-fire-allegedly-sparked-by-loadshedding-20220916 Mark Stoop. Michael van Niekerk.
Experience a safer and more open world Intelligent key and equipment management solutions Traka Africa (PTY) Ltd. | Cell: +27 82 777 3345 | [email protected]
8 Issue 7 2022 www.securitysa.com ONEPWINSIO&NEVENTS Cathexis Africa recently held a roadshow with a stop in Johannesburg where Hi-Tech Security Solutions was invited to attend, along with many of the company’s partners and users. The host of the event was Craig Wilson, who launched the show and introduced the company’s MD, Dene Alkema. Alkema presided over the main presentation where he spoke about what Cathexis was and will be doing in the near future. In a nutshell, Cathexis will continue to stick to what it does best, enhancing the value of video and making video surveillance more valuable by making more out of the data collected. He continued that the past financial year was a successful one for the company, which now has customers in over 60 countries and transmits over 1 million video channels. As with almost every industry, the market Cathexis serves has changed over the past two years, with customers today asking more informed questions and wanting solutions instead of products. During the COVID-19 period, Cathexis made significant investments in the company to ensure it emerged ready to take on the market as soon as things opened up. Highlighting the readiness of the company and CathexisVision to take on the future, he mentioned two case studies indicating what the company is capable of. The first was Cathexis demonstrates its ‘effective innovation’ By Andrew Seldon. Kyalami Estate in Johannesburg (which he also presented as a case study at Hi-Tech Security Solutions’ Residential Estate Security Conference in Johannesburg in October this year – see page 14), where CathexisVision supports about 250 cameras as well as numerous integrations with access control, biometrics, lighting and more. The second installation was in Turkey, where over 1100 cameras are managed from a central control room. Adding value One of the principles Alkema stressed about Cathexis is that of integrity and the drive to ensure the product it delivers works as promised. He summarised the value Cathexis ensures its video management platform provides: • Effective site management for customers. • Control room efficiencies. • Situational awareness. • An integrated approach. • Reliable evidence. Moreover, the system is architected to support integration with many thirdparty products, be they cameras or other products. ONVIF conformance is one of the ways in which this is achieved. And while CathexisVision has its own video analytics/ AI built in (with more on the way), customers can also add analytics from third parties while also integrating fire, alarm, ANPR, access control and other systems as required. Alkema also noted that the platform is keeping up with the times by including cyber protection and failover redundancy. The system’s health monitoring capabilities are also a standout feature, ensuring users are potentially aware of any problems on the horizon with their systems and servers before it becomes a catastrophe. The latest additions Worthy of special attention at the event was CathexisVision Carbon, the company’s new user interface that not only offers a sleek new GUI (graphical user interface), but also an enhanced feature set. Some of the updated features in Carbon include smart search, improved event monitoring, enhanced evidence building and archiving, improved performance and integration management. Forensic analysis and improved ‘adjacent camera mapping’ is also easier than ever, allowing users to easily follow a suspect as they move from one camera to another. Users can also customise the layout of the GUI to suit their particular requirements (such as making corridor camera views more useful), as well as share information between users and devices. User roles and access has also been broadened, giving administrators more power to assign different roles and permissions to different users. CatMobile is the Cathexis mobile app, which integrates seamlessly into the platform and allows users with the appropriate authority to see similar views as if they were behind the screen in a control room, from anywhere with connectivity. The mobile view is naturally not exactly the same due to the screen space available on a smartphone. Like Carbon, CatMobile is designed to be simple to set up and use. As mentioned above, Cathexis has its own AI-enhanced analytics available, the number of which has risen to nine, with more in the pipeline. These are available on Carbon and CatMobile. Looking ahead, the company will be enhancing its enterprise capabilities over the coming year, including the ability to monitor multiple sites simultaneously, and share access to camera layouts, maps and other resources across multiple devices. While CathexisVision may be a local product priced in Rands, which is good for volatile currency fluctuations, its growth and acceptance across the world shows it plays in the same field as the global brand names. The plans in place for further improvements to the platform serve to ensure that it remains a global competitor, ready to take on whatever challenges the future may hold. For more information contact Cathexis Africa, +27 31 240 0800, [email protected], www.cathexisvideo.com Dene Alkema. “As with almost every industry, the market Cathexis serves has changed over the past two years, with customers today asking more informed questions and wanting solutions instead of products.”
www.securitysa.com Issue 7 2022 9 NEWS & EVENTS Staying ahead of the curve, and delivering great partner experiences, remains the driving force behind innovation at Olarm. The company recently announced the availability of the Olarm PRO 4G, and has now added support for Nemtek Merlin and Paradox MGSP panels, and the newWPS mode. The Olarm PRO 4G uses 4G/2G andWi-Fi, offering upgraded performance, especially in remote areas with poor 2G connectivity. This provides better resilience during load shedding and future-proofing for the eventual phasingout of 2G mobile networks. Adding to the recent product and feature announcements, Olarm has added support for Nemtek Merlin 4i and Merlin Stealth electric fence energisers. This is in addition to the Nemtek Druid energisers which are already supported. Supported energisers now include: • Nemtek Druid 13LCD, 15LCD, 18LCD, 25LCD, 28LCD. • Nemtek Merlin 4i. • Nemtek Merlin Stealth M18S, M28X. Olarm PRO for alarm panels In addition, the Olarm PRO and Olarm PRO 4G devices are now compatible with IDS X64 Serial, Paradox MG5050+ and SP6000+ alarm panels, making it possible for partners to service more customers and smart-enable their alarm systems. Supported alarm panels include: • Paradox: MG5050, MG5050+ (minimum panel firmware v1.11.001), SP6000, SP6060+ Olarm expands integration and connectivity options (minimum panel firmware v1.10.004), SP65, EVO192. • DSC: PC1555, PC1616, PC832, PC864, PC1808, PC1832, PC1864, PC5005, PC5010, PC5015, PC5020. • Texecom: Premier 412, Premier 816, Premier 816 Plus, Premier 832. • IDS: 805, as well as the following which require an adaptor board (sold separately): 806, X16, X64, X64 Serial. Other features • Olarm has also introducedWPS mode support. This feature makes it quicker and easier to connect the Olarm PRO and Olarm PRO 4G to a secure wireless network. • The Olarm Cancel Responder feature allows Olarm app users to cancel any user-generated alarms, immediately notifying the control room and thus sparing users unnecessary callouts and associated costs. • The Olarm app now supports multi-language characters, symbols and emojis for labels and names, such as Arabic, Chinese and Hebrew. For more information contact Olarm, +27 21 009 0911, [email protected], www.olarm.co Modular Communications has designed and developed a locally manufactured camera enclosure which includes a 12 MP ultra-highresolution IP camera. The enclosure is rated for hazardous areas where potentially flammable atmospheres exist. Locally developed explosion-protected network camera The flammable substance is usually a gas or vapour, but may also be dust or fibre. Before a fire or an explosion of the flammable substance can occur, there must be sufficient oxygen to support combustion, and a source of ignition. It is therefore imperative that surveillance equipment is installed in a suitable enclosure complying to standards for equipment in a hazardous area. The enclosure is certified for Zone 1 and Zone 2 explosive gas atmospheres. It is also certified for Zone 20, Zone 21 and Zone 22, where combustible dust or fibres may be present in the air, or in layers, in sufficient quantities to produce an explosive or ignitable mixture. The internal camera is a 12 MP ultra-highresolution model which is ONVIF-compliant to standards G, Q, S and T. This makes it compatible with existing compliant VMS systems. Other features include PoE and H.265+ compression technology. The camera can be fitted with an internal SD card for standalone recording or recording to NVR systems. VCA analytics come standard, along with many more modern camera features. The camera has a fisheye lens, making 360° viewing possible. With its powerful de-warping features, the camera can be mounted in a ceiling (top-view) position or a wall mounting. However, because of the 360° coverage it is more suited to viewing closer images in fine detail. Because the solution is developed in South Africa, Modular can offer camera solutions to view areas at various distances to suit the application. The enclosure and camera have an IA certification. Being made in South Africa, the solution also comes at an affordable price. For more information contact Modular Communications SA, +27 41 364 2653, [email protected], www.modular.co.za
OPINION Surveillance solutionism is not a solution By Dr Craig Donald. The concept of surveillance solutionism has been used in the context of other types of surveillance, but related to CCTV it most often reflects concerns over privacy, human rights protections and unwarranted surveillance I came across an interesting term recently in an article by Albert Fox Cahn, published on wired.com, when he talked about ‘surveillance solutionism’. Broadly, the article referred to the idea that in respect of any potential crime problem, one throws surveillance cameras at it as a solution, often whether appropriate or not. The concept of surveillance solutionism has been used more broadly in the context of other types of surveillance, including the monitoring of people using technology, apps and social media, as well as increasing AI-enabled technology. I’ve seen the term used previously in the context of state intelligence by Christophe Prince in a book chapter called ‘On Denoting and Concealing in Surveillance Law’ in 2021, but there have been few mentions of it until Cahn’s article became highlighted and popularised. Mentions of surveillance solutionism in nearly all cases reflect concerns over privacy, human rights protections and unwarranted surveillance. Cahn’s points included a concern that an increasing culture is developing, including in city, state and government institutions, of using surveillance cameras without regard to where they are needed. Specifically, he refers to comments by New York governor, Kathy Hochul, at a news conference on 20 September 2022 which included “You think Big Brother’s watching you on the subways? …You’re absolutely right”, when she was announcing a new state programme to pay for two cameras in each of the city’s more than 6400 subway cars. In expressing his concerns about privacy, Cahn noted, “At the start of the post-9/11 surveillance age, Big Brother was a criticism; now it’s a selling point. It’s moments like these, when language fundamentally changes, that we can recognise how surveillance’s slippery slope has already taken us over a constitutional cliff.” Does it actually work? Human rights and privacy have been issues since the start of CCTV implementation, but whether you agree they may have been abused or rather that there should be more CCTV to protect people against crime, Cahn raises another concern that does affect us all, and the security industry as a whole. He questions whether cameras actually work and goes on to comment: “In recent years, the transit agency has spent tens of millions of dollars on cameras for every subway entrance. But when a deranged man opened fire on a packed subway car in April, the cameras didn’t work. In the aftermath, as the MTA and NYPD tried to throw each other under the bus for the failure, neither agency was willing to question their premise that the cameras were needed in the first place.” There are multiple stories one can read where crimes have been committed and cameras were not working, or staff were not paying attention. This includes one where a Bolt driver was bludgeoned to death by a mob in Parkwood, with
www.securitysa.com Issue 7 2022 11 OPINION Dr Craig Donald is a human factors specialist in security and CCTV. He is a director of Leaderware which provides instruments for the selection of CCTV operators, X-ray screeners and other security personnel in major operations around the world. He also runs CCTV Surveillance Skills and Body Language, and Advanced Surveillance Body Language courses for CCTV operators, supervisors and managers internationally, and consults on CCTV management. He can be contacted on +27 11 787 7811 or [email protected] a reporter from the Weekend Argus in Cape Town writing one person’s account: “Apparently, the woman on duty in the GP camera control room, behind the civic centre, saw the attack commence, then buggered off to do her errands at the bank,” said the member. “It is unacceptable that this happened and this is not the first time someone dies and the cameras fail to pick it up due to someone not paying attention.” I have no doubt that CCTV systems that are installed based on the appropriate operational requirements and correctly specified – staffed appropriately in a control room designed and managed effectively, with people having the right skills and following the correct procedures, including regular system checks – can reduce crime. The remarkable turnaround I was involved in when Cape Town first installed cameras in 2000, and achieved an 80% reduction in crime in the first year, is testament to this. The initial Cape Town performance was based on a clearly articulated and implemented surveillance strategy, a strong focus on the control room and staff, support from a number of motivated and competent, prominent people in the industry, and a desire to get the right results. In a range of societies around the world, however, there is a huge number of examples of cameras installed without any consideration on appropriateness or placement, no consideration on how they will be monitored effectively (if at all), poorly selected and trained staff, and inadequately managed operations within the control room. Even where cameras are only installed for reviewing information after the event, the quality of views is often low. The human factor is critical in any CCTV operation and cameras are only as good at the people who use them, and the managers who drive and ensure effective operation of the systems. Doing this consistently over time, to a high standard, is also a challenge that needs to be sustained. Effective management not magic A strategic focus, and an integrated and active executive and management approach to operations, are key elements in any successful crime protection approach, including CCTV. We use technological solutions to get results, but those solutions must work and they need to be applied effectively by people who are involved with them. It sounds so reasonable but is so often missing in those providing security solutions, from the operators’ level through to the executives who sign off on spending for the systems. In another article by Cahn on the fastcompany.com site in the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting tragedy, he highlights the dangers of accepting technology at face value, or “the increasingly insistent claims that technology can magically keep our kids safe. It won’t,” he states. He goes on to note, “The Uvalde school district had doubled security spending in the years leading up to the attack … there were also digital measures, including socialmedia-surveillance software from software firm Social Sentinel, Raptor Technologies’ visitor management software, metal detectors, cameras, threat-assessment teams,and reporting programs. Yet none of that worked against an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style rifle …Uvalde’s metal detectors, cameras and social-media monitoring didn’t save anyone on 24 May, and yet the vendors who sold those systems will likely make more money than ever this year.” We can’t disregard the fact that many schools and other organisations in the US, as well as all over the world, are using security technologies effectively and that they are often a critical factor in stopping tragic events or security threats at a number of levels. Despite Cahn’s comments, the technological developments and big data are enabling us to create new levels of protection for people, organisations and infrastructure. Yet his warnings reflect concerns about a ‘technosolutionism’ culture where, in response to fancy sales techniques and a dazzling array of promotions, we buy things that don’t suit us, don’t work, don’t integrate with our current systems or don’t fit the capacity we currently have. As users and managers of security technology, we need to think about comprehensive, workable solutions, and how each component assists in service delivery and the outcomes we want. Also, how these can be managed and operated in such a way that they produce results, while still recognising the interests of people and communities. Cheap and effective don’t work together I still frequently come across cases where companies have CCTV systems but the human capacity to use it effectively is almost non-existent. More recently, I have been privileged to work with some companies who are using technologies and intelligence data in incredibly innovative ways to protect their enterprises and employees, including from threats from well-organised and resourced crime syndicates. The use of these technologies as part of integrated strategies is simply awesome and I wouldn’t have believed them possible a few years ago, as are their results in detecting threats and responding to these in as proactive a manner as possible. The security management involved in these organisations is taking a well-considered, integrated approach to using technology that is very different to the concerns that are being voiced around surveillance solutionism. Cahn’s comments, though, remind us that as an industry, we need a conscience and reminders of what we should be doing and why, as well as the human factors, if we are to get the best outcomes. Sources • Albert Fox Cahn, The ‘Surveillance Solutionism’ of Putting Cameras in NYC Subways. 22 September 2022, wired.com. • David Lyon and David Murakami Wood (eds) 2021, Big Data Surveillance and Security Intelligence: The Canadian Case, UBC Press, Vancouver. • Velani Ludidi, CCTV cameras left unattended while criminals bludgeoned innocent driver, Weekend Argus, 11 June 2022. • Albert Fox Cahn, In the wake of the Uvalde shooting, surveillance tech is not the answer, 6 January 2022, fastcompany.com. • David Meyer, MTA CEO blames subway shooting camera fail on bad ‘internet connection’, 14 April 2022, newyorkpost.com.
12 Issue 7 2022 www.securitysa.com OPINION Five ways to grow your security installation business By Charles Freedman, CEO, ServCraft. The time you spend on growing your business translates directly into how it grows. Running your security installation business is hard. Growing it is harder. Finding time to work on the business (strategic stuff ) as well as do things in the business (operational stuff ) can be tricky when you only have so many hours in a day. I’m privileged to speak to hundreds of installation businesses every month. When I ask them how they’re growing their business, many look at me blankly. It turns out that for lots of business owners in our industry, their approach to growth often involves staring helplessly at the phone and hoping it will ring. In considering how you’re hoping to grow your business, it’s important to accept a simple truth: the time you spend on growing your business translates directly to how it grows. If the story above sounds familiar, don’t worry. Instead, let’s explore what you can do differently today that can help you grow your business tomorrow. 1. Ask your customers When thinking about growth, it’s new customers that spring to mind. But did you know it can cost up to five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one? An average ServCraft installer has 700 customers on their database. Do you know how many are on yours? Imagine you could find out if there’s something you could do for them? You can – just ask! A WhatsApp broadcast list holds 256 people. A group holds 512. It takes less than 30 minutes to get your customers into multiple lists and then you can talk to them easily. Marketing automation companies like mailchimp.com (USA) or everlytic.com (SA) allow you to send personalised emails and texts to your customers, and offer cheap or free versions to get you started. Whether you’re checking in, asking for referrals, sharing a promotion, or offering a new product or service, asking your existing customers is the quickest (and cheapest) way to find new business. 2. Outsource lead generation When something breaks or people are looking to upgrade, often the first place they go is Google. Getting to the top of a search results like is both an art and a science, and trying to get there yourself isn’t easy (or recommended). Lead generation companies like bark.com, snupit.co.za or localpros.co.za specialise in being at the top and converting clicks into leads. They send you leads you can quote on and only pay a fee if you win the work. Easy. Winning on these platforms requires being on top of your leads. Often you’ll be competing with other companies, so the quicker you can get a quote out the higher “If you’re not prepared to change how you’re spending your time, don’t expect a different outcome.”
www.securitysa.com Issue 7 2022 13 OPINION Charles Freedman. “In business, momentum beats perfection every time.” the chance of winning the work. So whether it’s you or someone in your team, making sure you’re ready to respond when the lead comes through is essential in getting the most from this channel. 3. Invest in digital marketing Digital marketing can be wildly intimidating. Websites, social media, pay per click, SEO… the more you learn about it, the more you realise how little you know and how complex it can be. Don’t panic. Starting with the basics can be enough. Make it easy for customers to find you. Make a good first impression. Share what problems you can help them solve. Make it easy for them to connect with you. Building an awesome website isn’t as hard as it used to be. You can choose to build your own with platforms like wix.com or squarespace.com, or you can google local partners to help you out – often at very reasonable prices. Social media pages are even easier to create and maintain. Have a look and see what competitors or companies in other industries are doing to find inspiration. Remember that your website or social media page is your chance to make a good first impression on your prospective customers. Whilst you might not want to over-invest, make sure that what customers see represents the quality and value of your brand so you don’t sell yourself short. If in doubt, get started and ask for help as you go. 4. Get involved in business networks The saying “it’s who you know, not what you know” rings true across all businesses. Security installation is often locally oriented, and jobs will often be linked to larger projects with different service providers. Communities like Business Network International (bni.co.za) and BBN (bbnbusinessnetwork.co.za) exist to support members to help each other grow their business by providing regular and focused interactions. Religious, cultural or social communities can also add huge value when nurtured over time. Relationships take time to build, and trust and reputation need to be earned. Investing in building networks today will help you reap rewards tomorrow. It’s also good to know you’re not alone and share the journey with other business owners. 5. Gear for growth So let’s say you do these things and suddenly you get 50% more leads than last month. Can you actually deliver the work well? Or do you risk either leaving opportunities on the table or underwhelming your customers? Taking time to think forward, plan and invest in the people, processes and technology that will power your growth is as important as getting more leads. This doesn’t mean hiring an army or building the Starship Enterprise to run your business. It might mean having a pipeline of partners, technicians or apprentices ready in case you need help with the volume or want to upgrade from paper and Excel to a job-management tool to make sure nothing falls through the cracks and you can spend less time on admin. Change is hard. But if you’re not prepared to change how you’re spending your time, don’t expect a different outcome. You’re the only person that can grow your business – and it starts by thinking about how you’re spending your time. Remember that something is better than nothing, and in business, momentum beats perfection every time. Charles Freedman is the CEO of ServCraft (www.servcraft.co.za), a South African-designed and -built job management software for security installations and other field service businesses.
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www.securitysa.com Issue 7 2022 15 RESIDENTIAL ESTATE SECURITY CONFERENCE 2022 Residential Estate Security Conference 2022 The first Residential Estate Security Conference since March 2020 discussed the people, technology and processes involved in mitigating risks to deliver smart, secure living. By Andrew Seldon. Celebrating the ability to get together and meet people again, Hi-Tech Security Solutions hosted its first Residential Estate Security Conference in over two years on 18 October 2022 at the Indaba Hotel and Conference Centre in Fourways, under the banner of ‘Mitigating Risks to Deliver Smart, Secure Living’. The full-day event was sold out, with all the available delegate seats (plus a couple of extras) occupied, and all the possible sponsorships snapped up. The sponsors for this conference are all mentioned after this article. They were: • Allbro. • Arteco Global. • Elvey Group. Iris AI’s Gerhard Furter, the second speaker who was recognised as an IFSEC Global Security Influencer earlier this year (he was recognised as the third most prominent AI influencer in the world), spoke about a critical topic close to everyone’s heart gathering effective and useful intelligence on crime and potential crimes. The focus is to use those people in communities and community forums (and estates) – referred to as non-linear intelligence sources – to share their findings on a common platform they already use, such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal, while allowing Amanda (Furter’s AI communications application, or ‘intelligent curator’) to join the group. The information is then collated and analysed by another AI platform that is used commercially, which vets the information received and provides alerts and insights. The system is currently in use in the Eastern Cape, where it has the support of private security companies and SAPS, and has delivered excellent results in not only solving crime, but preventing it. The solution is simple in practice, but very complex in how it works. Therefore, after a short presentation, a crowd gathered around Furter’s laptop to watch him demonstrate the power of ‘the tannie on the stoep’. The presentation was an eye-opener and showed Weaponising ‘the tannie behind the curtain’: Gerhard Furter the real power of this solution. Best of all, it is being made available as a community service at no cost. • IDEMIA. • Impro Technologies. • MiRO. • Nemtek. • Nice SA. • Optex. • Stafix Security Centres. After a short introduction by the editor of Hi-Tech Security Solutions, followed by a welcome from Hi-Tech’s product manager, Tracy Wolter, the presentations kicked off. Below is a brief overview of the presentations; these summaries do not provide the presenters with due credit for the information provided, but merely offer a taste of what was on delivered on the day.
16 Issue 7 2022 www.securitysa.com RESIDENTIAL ESTATE SECURITY CONFERENCE 2022 Risk management on a budget: Lesley-Anne Kleyn Lesley-Anne Kleyn, MD of Kleyn Change Management, was on stage to advise estates on how they can manage their risks effectively, even in tough economic times when budgets are being stretched. The key point she started with is that there is no security solution which is cheap, fast and good; at best you get to choose two of those. Kleyn then went on to highlight some of the best-practice principles of risk management for estates, starting with responsibility: Who is the boss when it comes to security? The answer is the HOA must be able to make informed decisions based on reliable information provided by an independent source. The cheapest solution, or the chairman’s cousin’s brother-in-law, will not deliver reliable security to your residents. An independent audit is an examination of the current status of the manpower, technology and processes, and will show the estate exactly what is (really) currently in place. This should be followed by a risk determination to form the real-world risk baseline. Only then can an effective security strategy be developed, and this must be a detailed, written, five-to-ten year plan the estate will stick to, even as members come and go. Kleyn also mentioned a few of the concepts to be considered in the estate’s decision-making process. Two items she mentioned, among many others, included knowing the difference between consumergrade and professional-grade products, as well as opting for field-hardened products that can withstand the various weather patterns the estate faces. At the end of the day, Kleyn says there are three pillars to managing risks: people, processes and technology. Within these, there are generally seven critical areas to address (with almost endless sub-categories): 1. The outer perimeter. 2. The inner perimeter. 3. Network infrastructure. 4. Access and egress. 5. Buildings and alarming. 6. Command and control. 7. Maintenance. Kleyn then went into a bit more detail on one of the most critical (or even the most critical) areas to address – the outer perimeter – where she gave an example of how to implement the four Ds (deter, detect, delay, defend). She also noted that it is important to understand that each critical area has its own layers made up of further processes, solutions and people. Ending her presentation, Kleyn briefly mentioned the security solution value chain and how it is important that each component of this value chain is included in the full risk management process to ensure success. In today’s connected world where technology makes things simpler and faster, MJ Oosthuizen, director: ESS (Electronic Security Solutions) at G4S South Africa (and the first of two speakers at the event to be recognised as an IFSEC Global Security Influencer in 2023) was on hand to show how estates and residents can make the most of their security technology, processes and people – as well as additional technology now available to all – to add value to their security posture and their lives on the estate. Oosthuizen gave a quick overview of the evolution of estate security (and beyond), from having a fence and a guard to the integrated solutions available today. He made the point that having a guard checking in at various points on his patrol route was not an ‘integrated solution’ – even if the check-in was done automatically via Bluetooth and if the individual had a high-tech panic button on their body-worn camera. Leading into many of the presentations to come later in the day, he noted that while the roaming officer equipped with technology is a critical part of the integrated security solution, an effective solution requires more. For example, it requires intelligence which is collected from‘the usual suspects’, but also from the community whose members communicate and interact with each other on a daily basis. All this needs to be collected and collated (with due respect to the relevant privacy regulations) in a centralised location and made available, at the right time, to whoever needs it. Furthermore, this integrated solution (or complete security solution, as he put it), is made up of access control, guarding (with officers trained to almost be a concierge rather than just a security guard), surveillance with analytics and AI, fibre infrastructure, intrusion and alarm solutions, as well as the elusive but fast-growing smart home market. All these can be part of an estate’s risk or security solution at a lower cost than before when using a services model, which costs the estate a set monthly amount which can be divided up among residents for a small Adding value beyond security: addition to their monthly levy. Perhaps the most important service that can also be included is the availability of electricity – whether Eskom is able to provide it or not. Oosthuizen then briefly highlighted the components that make up a smart home, all based on a secure connection and mostly managed by the resident’s smartphone, but some of which can also be incorporated into the estate’s command and control capabilities to provide improved individual and estate services. MJ Oosthuizen
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