The security week: Lifesaving, biometrics and Bench Tests

It’s the end of another security week, and we’re bursting at the seams with newsy goodness. Let’s explore a little further, shall we?

Heading up the list are the Pilgrims officers who saved a contractor’s life. Damn fine work, sirs! Hopefully they receive some kind of bonus..

Also! Here is our good old pal the Access Control Doctor. Hello, Access Control Doctor! What are we talking about this time? It’s biometrics. Good!

It’s also time for another Bench Test. This one is of a Genie network dome. What the heck did our experts think of it? Click on this very link to discover for your own self.

And SMT Online editor Brian Sims has reported on the NSI’s new Contract Quality Marque – he also brought us the industry’s reaction to the move. Splendid stuff!

This week’s Song About Security comes from Ms Tina Arena, and is all about chains and suchlike.

Have a great weekend, folks.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Fingerprints and market leadership

Good Monday! I’m back in the office after last week’s Security Excellence Awards shindig hootenanny extravaganza. In case you missed it, here’s the full list of winners, here’s a gallery with them in it, and here’s another gallery of images from the event.

In today’s security news awesomeness we have not just a video, and not just a photo, but a video, photo and words all about a new fingerprint technology that is designed to scan its way through muck and scars and all that sort of malarkey. Check it out!

Then there’s Bosch’s claim to be the market leader in the EMEA CCTV market – which isn’t, sadly, a huge covered market that happens in The Hague or somewhere between Thursday and Sunday each week.

We’ve also got a new face to introduce: it’s Martin Jefferson, of Western Digital, who takes up the newly created post of Storage Doctor. Read all about him – then send through your digital video storage questions. FAQtual!

There’s also cash in transit experts Loomis with their Sainsbury’s contract; Smart Guard’s plans for IFSEC India; and terror security for Number One Poultry – a building, rather than an excellent chicken. Though a prize winning chicken could be the target of an attack, so best to keep vigilant.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Biometrics, knife crime, and an editor’s view

Wednesday! That’s the day of the week it is. No surprises there then, I’d imagine. And it’s no surprise at all that I4S is chock-full of security news wonderfulness. Here’s some. Look!

We’ve got Stewart Hefferman opining on those twin thingos, banking and biometrics. He thinks they should hang out together more.

There’s also this award-winning video on the ramifications of knife crime. Way to go, feller!

Once again Security Installer editor Alan Hyder has donned his opinion wetsuit and analysis flippers and dived headfirst into the murky waters of the security world, in his fortnightly SI Editor’s View column.

In addition to this magnificence, we’ve got another video for you, of a more instructional nature – it’s someone installing an Axis camera. Nice!

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Can security managers stop terrorism?

Today’s spectacular missive filled with security newsology – this very thing here! – leads with an article that asks: Can UK security managers really hope to do anything to stop terrorists? Written by Alan Cain, it’s a thought-provoking and detailed piece.

We’ve also got a story about Paxton providing access control software for unknown football club Manchester United. Let’s hope it brings these plucky underdogs some luck!

There are also new BT Redcare products available; a thermal CCTV installation providing cost savings at a power station; and the biometrics sector signing up for National Occupational Standards.

We’re drawing to a close in our CCTV End User Survey – complete it now for your chance to win 200 smackers (pounds) worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers.

And if you haven’t entered the 2009 Security Excellence Awards, well – don’t be surprised if you are shunned by your colleagues and family once word gets out. I’m just sayin’, is all.

Shazam! www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

The ‘face time’ edition

Tuesday greetings to you, security fans. We’ve got a number of news stories to point out to you. So let’s not delay, eh?

First up we’ve got Honeywell, who have launched a cost-effective two-door version of its NetAXS access panel. Cheap entry!

And Stewart Hefferman, previously quoted in many TSSI stories, has jumped ship to biometrics folks OmniPerception. He’s their ‘new face‘. That’s an hilarious reference to their facial recognition capabilities. LOL!

Elsewhere there are camera launches from Dallmeier; improved domes from Vicon; compatible DVRs from Lilin; and police excitement over on I4S India.

Make sure you take our CCTV End User Survey. You can win Marks & Spencer vouchers. You also receive 800 points of free street credibility.

Here is a puppy in a drain rescued using CCTV.

Now that’s done, why not visit www.info4security.com?

Counter-terror re-match – and biometrics

Feel free to gorge yourself on today’s feast of gourmet security news. It’s factual, and nutritious. That’s info4security for you.

First up, it’s Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and the counter-terror plan that almost no one is calling ‘Contest 2‘. The re-match?

Then there are British Standards – not the ones about queuing, and customer service, but the ones governing security. There’s a new website about biometrics from the BSI.

We’ve also got the lowdown on the Indian Premier League and Commonwealth Games; Milestone opening offices in Spain and Australia; and a partnership deal for Computerlinks and Netgenium.

Don’t forget to get involved in the IFSEC Conference 2009. This rabbit forgot, sadly.

For your edification, homies: www.info4security.com and www.ifsec.co.uk.

Opinion, successful CCTV, and silver linings

Security Installer editor Alan Hyder takes out his opinionoscope today and surveys the arid landscape for signs of security excitement, in his SI Editor’s View. And guess what? He finds some! This is very good and interesting news.

Also today, a re-deployable CCTV solution in Carlisle is helping to curb the antisocial tendencies of some members of the community. More goodness.

And speaking of good things, SMT Online editor Brian Sims brings us a story of a CIPD report which suggests there may be a ‘silver lining’ to the recession. Sort of. Good!

Protecting churches is a nice thing to do, whatever your religious convictions. BRE Global has published a new guide to it. And there’s a technical report on biometrics out now, too. But from ISO and IEC, those old pals.

There are only two weeks to go until the intriguing and very necessary conference Securing Educational Establishments takes place. If you decide to get involved, a whole generation of school children will thank you with their smiling, happy faces. Well, maybe not you, specifically, but you get the idea.

Smile at www.info4security.com and www.ifsec.co.uk. Smile!

The BBC on biometrics

The BBC’s ‘Click’ programme has been running a series of features on biometric security.

You can read the two parts of its online articles here and here – and if you’re in the UK (and possibly elsewhere?) you can watch the episode with the second part of the feature in it online as well.

Thanks to IFSEC Event Manager Charlie Cracknell for pointing this out. Nice work.

Open houses, fines and diamonds

News galore on I4S today. Alan Hyder brings us a report direct from last week’s Next Generation CCTV conference, where Sony’s Simon Nash assured the audience that the Onvif network video standards forum would be ‘truly open’ to all.

And Securiplan has copped a fairly sizable fine for using unlicensed employees – £95,000, plus £550,000 in costs. Ouch. Something to make the SIA a little happier after last week’s events, perhaps?

They always say that biometric access control readers are a girl’s best friend. But what happens if the reader is damaged by dirt and grease? The girl gets very upset, that’s what. Luckily there is now a ‘diamond coating’ to protect this rather sensitive area.

Don’t forget to get involved with our upcoming conferences. These include The Threat Within, which deals with employee vetting, and seems particularly apt in light of the SIA security checks brouhaha; and Impenetrable Buildings and Perimeters, which deals with access and protection. They seem intriguing!

Also, if you would like a new job, why not try this one? It seems perfect, especially if you are good at or experienced in security training. There are also other jobs currently being advertised on handy security jobs site, Jobs for Security. Gainful employment!

Feel free to visit info4security and ifsec.co.uk. I ain’t stoppin’ ya.

Facial recognition and readers’ faves

An armada of high interest security news battleships set sail from I4S towers over the internet’s choppy waves this weekend and today. Its ultimate destination – your grateful computer or other internet enabled device. Ahoy!

First up is the news of HSBC using facial recognition biometrics to improve security at its data centres. And definitely not to keep out angry or suspicious customers.

Then there’s an exciting new feature – our round up of the best read stories of the past month. Granted, it doesn’t sound that crazy or ‘out there’, but it’s a helluva lot of fun. Give it a try!

We’ve also got two new Bench Tests for you to cast your Bench Test reading eyes over – there’s the deView VDP20 dome camera, and also Plustek’s NVR 4000. Constructive criticism!

If you like information security standards, you’ll be thrilled to know that LPCB has updated one of them! It’s true.

I am exaggerating for effect, but I know two things about Sweden: the excellent synthpop duo The Knife come from there; and that amusing Swedish chef from off of the Muppets. Well, now there is one more thing: Synectics has installed some surveillance equipment at casinos there. Intriguing!

Conferences are great opportunities to learn things and meet people. You can have a frank exchange of ideas! Here are two good ones: Impenetrable Buildings and Perimeters; and Managing the Unexpected: Business Continuity and Crisis Management. Attendance is recommended.

Visit info4security.com and ifsec.co.uk