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Common framework for diverse security solutions

GE Security recently announced that third-party security software developers and security device manufacturers can join a new, comprehensive developer program that allows them to capitalise on new market opportunities, by leveraging an integrated standards-based solution that meets their customers' requirements.

"Since most physical security infrastructures are composed of a variety of security systems from multiple vendors, there are major integration problems", says Brett Birch, managing director of GE Security in South Africa.

"The new GE Security Developer Program provides a successful security management framework that supports multiple platforms and databases; while working across a variety of vendors' security devices ranging in functionality from digital video surveillance and recording, to access control, fibre-optic transmission, and fire and intrusion detection," he explains.

As a result of the GE Security Developer Programme, both IT and security management will know exactly what is going on with their networks. They will be able to coordinate mitigation efforts by responding to attacks with speed and precision, to minimise exposure and damage.

"They will additionally reduce employee and training costs, eliminate unnecessary equipment expense, lower security breeches and minimise mission-critical downtime," Birch adds.

"At last there is a program that develops mutually successful relationships between today's leading security vendors. No one company can do it alone. There are too many types of devices and too many versions of these devices to remain current. The security industry needs this developers' program to assure end users that integration will be available for all components in their security systems."

GE Security's Facility Commander is a standards-based command and control integration platform that lets organisations integrate all aspects of their security and facility management within a single screen. With the Facility Commander system developer's kit (SDK), programme participants can develop a plug-and-play driver to interface their security equipment and software using provided application programming interfaces (APIs). Once the driver is written, it can easily be plugged into Facility Commander and appear as a pull-down option when the installer is configuring their system.

The Secure Perfect API is a Windows-based development framework for building complete security management solutions. With it, developers can write custom software interfaces that process alarm, badge and zone transactions from the Secure Perfect system, control certain points in a microcontroller, and create and generate their own alarms on demand," Birch comments.

GE Security Developer Programme members will be limited to third party software developers capable of integration, customisation and personalisation. They will also be required to exhibit software development skills in key areas such as Java and C++ depending upon the product they have selected for integration.

GE Security will work with its partners during the development cycle and then continue the relationship by helping them go to market and generate business opportunities based on the joint solution.

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