The security week: Terrorism, IFSEC, and advice

Wake up, security news fans! It’s time for your weekly dose of info4security goodness.

And what a week it’s been! Alan Cain brought us this fascinating and in-depth article that is essential reading for all security managers, asking the question: Can security managers do anything to stop terrorism?

If you’re after the definitive, most thorough, and well-written analysis of IFSEC 2009 – Security Installer editor Alan Hyder has written it. It’s his IFSEC 2009 review. In many ways, it’s the only show review that counts. He also chipped in with his SI Editor’s View this week. Alan’s been offering up opinions with wild abandon. Good work!

We were swimming in useful security advice this week. First up was the Access Control Doctor, talking about attracting access customers; then there was Jon Hill, with his top five tips on megapixel cameras. That’s some helpful stuff!

Our Friday Song About Security is dedicated to those people who keep losing important bits of data, and it comes courtesy of Queens of the Stone Age.

The CCTV End User Survey is drawing to a close, so make sure you complete it to be in with a chance of winning £200 of Marks and Spencer vouchers. And make sure you enter the 2009 Security Excellence Awards – there’s a danger that you won’t win anything if you don’t. That’s just some logic for you. Free of charge and everything. Enjoy!

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

The definitive word on IFSEC 2009

Today we’ve got the most informative, in-depth overview of trends and happenings at IFSEC 2009. Written by Security Installer editor Alan Hyder, you really cannot find a more useful and bookmarkable article on this even anywhere else. It’s the final word on the topic. Although there’s obviously no way I can stop you talking about it if you really want to.

In addition to this superlative piece of journalism, we’ve also got our old pal the Access Control Doctor. This time he’s talking about attracting access control customers. It makes good business sense!

Today there’s also Andrea Kirkby on the UK government’s CONTEST2 anti-terrorist strategy; Peter O’Connor on overcoming the ‘fear factor’ in using wirefree equipment; and two anti-fraud pieces: one on Control Risks, and one on the NHS. It’s newsgasmic!

If you’re a CCTV end user – and let’s face it, who isn’t? – you should go ahead and take part in our CCTV End User Survey. You could win some vouchers!

Also, the deadline for entries to the Security Excellence Awards 2009 is drawing near. So enter it, why not? There’s a brand new Environmental Initiative category for you. Get some green kudos!

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

The ‘take a hammer to it’ edition

We all like to see people smashing things up. Don’t be ashamed, it’s human nature. The only thing better than seeing people smashing things up is seeing them try and fail to smash things up. Watch a man take several chunky implements to the new Paxton vandal resistant keypad. It’s worth a round of applause.

IFSEC 2009 unleashed a torrent of security news that continues to flow (not literally). The latest instalment comes courtesy of Honeywell’s Vineet Nargolwala, who spoke to Brian Sims about integrated security solutions and new training programmes. Informative!

G4S has managed to seal the deal with Jersey Airport, guarding its facilities – as well as providing security to over 250 events this summer. Impressive.

There are also more interesting stories from last week’s Skills for Security conference in Scotland. We’ve got Andy Sim on apprenticeships; Stuart Lowden on security officer training; and a prize for Pointer. That’s skillful!

There is nothing more thrilling than winning a Security Excellence Award. Nothing! Enter now and reduce the potential for disappointment.

Back alleykazam: www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

The ACS and Bench Tests

Top notch security news excitement galore today. As you’d expect. Absolutely!

First up is venerable SMT Online editor Brian Sims, who reports on the Approved Contractor Scheme developments at last week’s SIA Stakeholder Conference, in his SMT Online Editor’s View. Topical and delicious.

Brian has also provided us with an exclusive interview with Mike Bluestone, new chairman of the Security Institute. The interview took place at IFSEC 2009 – check out the rest of our coverage in our IFSEC News section.

We’ve gone Bench Test-tastic! This month it’s the turn of JVC’s VN-X35U day/night IP megapixel camera. How does it fare? You know you’ve gotta click on this very link to find out. It’s true!

In addition, there are thrilling and informative articles on new Siemens IP cameras; and risk and threat assessment. What’s not to like?

What up? www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk.

The security week: New chief at the SIA, and IFSEC assessment

If you’re a fan of Government regulators – and really, who isn’t? – then you will be overjoyed by the news that Bill Butler has been given the chief executive’s job at the Security Industry Authority. Bill’s got regulator chops – he’s moving from the Gambling Commission, and previously worked for the Healthcare and Audit Commissions. According to his profile on social network thingo LinkedIn, his specialties are the “set up of public bodies, public policy development to ministerial level, public finance and audit, contract negotiation, professional management, consultancy.” So that all sounds great.

The appointment was announced at the SIA’s Stakeholder Conference (not a gathering of vampire slayers) in Manchester this week. SMT Online editor Brian Sims was there – he’ll be providing reports from its proceedings next week. In the meantime, here’s what chairman Baroness Ruth Henig had to say.

Apparently there was a major security exhibition of some description last week. After a short pause for breath, Security Installer boss Alan Hyder uses his formidable powers of hindsight to detect and discuss IFSEC‘s major talking points in his Editor’s View column.

Now here is a brief halt in proceedings so that I can link to an amusing, injury-free game.

But this is hard-hitting stuff: a former security director found guilty. And here’s our US correspondent John Honovich on the latest happenings there – including the potential for analogue megapixel CCTV.

To balance that out, here is a cat climbing into a fishbowl.

Today’s Song About Security is dedicated to High Definition CCTV. It’s a trendy topic!

Another thing that is less trendy, perhaps, but equally, or perhaps more vital, is security in the public sector. That particular article is so interesting it may cause you to do an awesome dance. Be warned!

Don’t forget that all of our IFSEC 2009 coverage, including news stories, videos and picture galleries, can be found at info4security.com/ifsecnews. Thorough!

And get an entry into the Security Excellence Awards 2009. Winning one of these awards is possibly the most delightful thing that could ever happen to you.

Fragmented police – and robots!

Wahey! That’s the enthusiastic start to this very missive. Yes, this one here. Let’s go!

First up is robots. We’re big fans of robots here at I4S, and get very excited when we hear about things like Samsung Techwin’s killing robot, because it feels like we are living in the future. So today’s piece on the ReconRobot is very welcome indeed.

However, fragmented UK police is not so good. According to this article, that’s the consequence of the digital switchover. Yikes!

We’ve got more IFSEC 2009 coverage today, with stories on Western Digital and the BSIA’s Meet The Buyers event. Remember that you can access all of our IFSEC 2009 coverage by visiting this little link here.

Proving very popular is our story on the IFSEC Award winners and its attendant glitz and glamour gallery. If you fancy appearing in either of these types of things later this year, you should enter the Security Excellence Awards 2009. They’re totally prestigious!

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

Analysing IFSEC – and swine flu

Greetings, security news fans! It strikes me as almost the perfect day to discuss the latest security industry issues, topics, and thingos. So let’s do just that!

Today Security Installer’s garrulous editor Alan Hyder unsheathed his analysis syringe and plunged it deep into the opinion zone of IFSEC 2009 – metaphorically, of course – in his SI Editor’s View. Super cool and trendy!

For some reason people have concerns about something called ‘swine flu‘. Irisys have a camera they think is good for using in the fight against it.

We’ve also got Raid-control Award winners, a Scottish apprenticeship framework, a fraudulent nurse, and an in-depth article on security in the public sector.

Don’t forget that you can get all of your IFSEC 2009 coverage needs sated by visiting www.info4security.com/ifsecnews. It’s comprehensive!

Get along to www.info4security.com, and www.ifsec.co.uk. For your health!

The security week: IFSEC 2009 special

Hello. I am sitting in bed as I type this. Truly. It’s not because the powers that be at I4S Towers have installed bunks and have us working around the clock in some kind of prison-camp style arrangement. No, it’s because security shindig IFSEC 2009 finished up yesterday, and I’m knackered.

As a consequence, our theme this week is ‘relaxation‘.

But it’s been anything but relaxing at the NEC Birmingham this week. And we’ve been there the whole time, diligently covering all the action with assorted high-tech tools and good old-fashioned trudging around and scrawling in notepads.

SMT Online supremo Brian Sims hosted numerous discussion and briefings and high-end talks – but still found time to keep all and sundry updated via the magic of Twitter. Find him at twitter.com/smtonlineeditor.

Security Installer boss Alan Hyder brought us a veritable tsunami of news excitement, including this piece on Norbain honcho Alun John’s observations of the state of the CCTV market, and details of Dedicated Micros’ strategy for the year ahead.

I contributed a techno-splodge of video items and photo galleries. These included bits from Cisco Systems, Samsungs Techwin and Electronics, Axis Communications, and a quick demo of an IFSEC Award-winning product from Concept Smoke Screen.

Speaking of the IFSEC 2009 Security Industry Awards – they happened! Oh yes. Hosted by John Sergeant. We had all the winners first! And a photo gallery of beautiful people. As well as some from the security industry. Ha ha ha. I jest. Or do I? Yes, I do.

We’ll have much more from IFSEC 2009 over the coming days and weeks, so keep coming back to info4security.com for your security news fix, information junkies.

I’m going to continue to have a decent lie down. See you next week. Here are some tigers and pumpkins.

IFSEC 2009 – Day Four

That’s it. It’s done. Over. Finished. Kaput. Etcetera!

IFSEC 2009 has finished, but the memories, or scars, will last a lifetime. But you don’t really need to remember – you can just visit info4security for the most comprehensive IFSEC coverage you could ever hope to peruse.

We may be exhausted, but the show analysis and reportage will continue over the coming days and weeks. And next week we’ll let you know just which Song About Security IFSEC visitors voted as their favourite. Now that’s excitement!

I’m heading off for a nap. Adios!

IFSEC 2009 – Day Two

So, that’s Day 2 of IFSEC 2009. And there are stories galore! Have a look at some below. Go on.

Most importantly, the IFSEC 2009 Security Industry Awards were held last night, hosted by John Sergeant. We’ve got all the winners and a gallery of photos for your viewing enjoyment.

If you’re at IFSEC tomorrow, why not head along to the IFSEC 2009 Conference? It’s all about technology and that. It sounds totally awesome!!!

Keep on keeping on. Anon.

IFSEC 2009 Video: Vista PowerDome Pro

IFSEC 2009 Video: Kelly Carlberg of Cisco Systems

IFSEC 2009 Video: Martin Cottle of Samsung Electronics talks A1