“Smart Dust” Will Revolutionize Security Monitoring
The first steps towards building a "Central Nervous System for the Earth" are about to be taken by Hewlett-Packard (HP) according to a recent article on CNN. See the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/05/03/smart.dust.sensors/index.html The concept for an easily distributable system of rice sized sensors is attributed to the thinking of UC Berkley computer scientist, Kris Pister. Pister imagined these sensors, which he named "smart dust," would eventually be sprinkled across the globe to provide real-time monitoring of everything from traffic to ecosystem health. An HP researcher has announced plans to distribute 1 million sensors over six square miles to aid Royal Dutch Shell in oil exploration by monitoring rock vibrations and movement. The HP sensors are about the size of a matchbook and are encased in an enclosure the size of an old VHS tape. That is bigger than a grain of rice but we all remember what the first cell phones looked like, right? http://www.oaktreeent.com/web_photos/Telephones/SouthWestern_Bell_Motorola_Brick_Cell_phone_web.jpg The article does not devote much time to the potential security monitoring applications of this technology but the possibilities are endless. Rather than waiting for a motion detection system to detect someone who has already entered a building, a company could deploy sensors (with cameras) that would observe a person's movements from the moment they walked onto the campus. One can easily imagine what a boon this could be to the security monitoring industry. In the future, in addition to dispatching guards to investigate unusual vibrations along the fence line, the central station might also dispatch maintenance based on an alarm that tells them that the flowers need watering.
Reliant Security provides real-time security solutions to clients throughout the western United States.
Sincerely, Matthew Cooper, CPP VP Reliant Security
Eight Criteria to Consider Before Purchasing a Biometric TWIC Reader
L-1 Identity Solutions (www.l1id.com) released an interesting White Paper outlining eight things to consider before purchasing a biometric TWIC reader.You can request a copy of the White Paper here: http://www.l1id.com/forms/product_info_request Here is a summary of the eight criteria to consider: 1) "Throughput" - Ports are busy places often with hundreds of vehicles entering and exiting daily. Biometric readers must be able to read TWIC's quickly and reliably. Long delays and equipment breakdowns can cost terminal operators thousands of dollars in lost productivity. 2) "Resilience" - Every component of a TWIC reader is a potential bottleneck or single point of failure. Every piece must be reliable including the enclosure casing, the electronics, the network capabilities, and the weather resistance. Will your reader function at negative 25 degrees or at 120 degrees? It should. 3) "Ruggedness" - Don't rely simply on IP rating which only state the enclosure's ability to withstand water. The components inside the enclosure that need to continue working smoothly in extreme weather, rain and snow. 4) "Multiple Authentication Mode Capability" - The selected reader needs to function appropriately at all MARSEC levels. Therefore the reader must be able to positively identify persons based on biometrics, photo identification and pin numbers or a combination. 5) "Flexible Workflow" - Readers must be able to accommodate the current business process as much as possible. Terminal operators do not want to completely upend their current access control procedures. TWIC readers must be flexible when integrating into current Physical Access Control Systems (PACS). 6) "Offline Operations" - TWIC readers need to be able to check access against the Credential Revocation List (CRL) and the TSA "Hotlist." What if the wider internet network is down due to issues with TSA servers. Only readers that can download and internally store copies of the necessary checklists will be able to function when the network is down. 7) "Wireless Capabilities" - In order to be cost effectively deployed at remote gates and locations, TWIC readers must have robust and secure wireless connectivity. 8 ) "Biometric Leverage" - Port security is complex, expensive and time consuming. Security managers can make it less so by leveraging the TWIC biometric and making this information the standard for all biometric identifiers that are being used at a facility.
While the L1 White Paper is primarily a marketing piece for their TWIC reader technologies, it raises a number of serious issues that security managers must consider in order to deploy this cutting edge technology efficiently and effectively.
Reliant Security monitors the latest security technologies and trends and provides up to date solutions for clients throughout the western United States.
Sincerely, Matthew Cooper, CPP VP Reliant Security
Protecting Critical Infrastructure in an Apathetic Environment
Following the 9/11 attacks in the United States, the country implemented a broad range of security measures at seaports, airports and along the US border in order to strengthen the security of the country. Now almost ten years later without another attack, some security professionals worry that business and political leaders and the public at large are growing apathetic about the threat of terrorism.
Marshall Keith James of SoBran, Inc. wrote an interesting article for security managers who are working against the grain in this environment. http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/facing-challenge-protecting-critical-infrastructure-apathetic-environment-m-k-james-sobran-inc?page=0,0
Some of his advice to security managers is as follows:
- Articulate the threats to your operation without exaggeration
- Understand and test your security plan
- Identify potential targets and specific threats
- Avoid pre-packaged solutions which are "hazard centric"
- Counter apathy with enthusiasm
- Develop advisory relationships with security professionals experienced in plan development and implementation
Reliant Security provides professional security services and consulting to business and government clients throughout the Western United States.
Sincerely, Matthew Cooper, CPP VP Reliant Security
The Future of Access Control?
Daniel Gelinas writing for Security Systems News, announced the arrival of the SafeRise security solution to the US Market.
See the article here: http://www.securitysystemsnews.com/p=article&id=ss200912Oku0rm
SafeRise was created by Tel Aviv based FST21 (http://www.fst21.com) and is described in their literature as a comprehensive "intelligent" access control system that utilizes "2nd generation biometrics, video & voice analytics."
The SafeRise system does not use any keys, proximity cards or RFID but rather, "combines facial recognition, video analytics, speaker recognition (the system recognizes a speaker’s specific voiceprint), speech recognition (the system recognizes spoken commands), and license plate recognition to completely secure a building and allow access only to those pre-vetted to be there."
Unlike biometric fingerprint and retinal scanners, which can be perceived as inconvenient or intrusive by requiring users to touch or look into a reader, the SafeRise system purports to identify persons and vehicles as they approach the building entrance without requiring any specific interaction from the user. An authorized person can simply walk up and open a secured door without any conscious interaction with the access control system.
If the SafeRise system works reliably as advertised, it has the potential to make proximity card based access control systems seem relatively insecure and out of date in the very near future.
Reliant Security monitors current security trends and technologies in order to provide the latest and most relevant solutions to our customers.
Sincerely, Matthew Cooper, CPP VP Reliant Security