White Papers 

This white paper examines architectural precast concrete products and their use in creating effective security barriers. This installment highlights a historical perspective of architectural precast concrete barriers and sheds light on many of the questions and decisions that must be considered when choosing a product that balances security, life cycle costs and aesthetics.

This white paper examines the role security principles play in achieving a performance-based, ‘systemic’ view of the engineering, design and construction of Access Control Points (ACP). The goal of this paper is to shed light on the application of security principles and how these may serve as the ’glue’ that connects many separate ACP concepts and stakeholders.

The convergence of Building Systems, preconstruction and retofitts

Discussing the development of digital x-ray technologies in the field of security and its different screening applications

The need to efficiently dispose large quantities of documents in the workplace has transformed the simple paper shredder into an advanced piece of office equipment.

SentryLight created an affordable concealed emergency light for hotel guest rooms.

There exist a large number of technical and market options available with various forms of Smart Card technology and how those different options are presently playing out in the marketplace. This white paper will outline, in brief, these critical differentiators. It will describe the general characteristics of each and summarize how the market is approaching these differentiators to date;. It will also describe existing and evolving industry capabilities in each arena. The areas that will be covered are: Open versus Closed Smart Card Systems; Encrypted versus Non-Encrypted and the role of Authentication; Serial Number versus Sector Reading/Writing of Smart Cards; The role of other technologies in the Smart Card Arena; The role of expanded Smart Cards in Convergence; The role of expanded Smart Cards in Government Security Programs; Making Decisions in an Interrelated Option Matrix

Crime, loitering and general disorder are common problems at inner-city, public housing sites. Most of the crime is committed by outsiders who typically come into the facility to deal drugs, gamble, drink or congregate. At the very least, this is disturbing to the housing residents and often progresses to include property damage, vandalism and theft. At its worst, residents may be verbally and/or physically assaulted as they enter and leave their homes. Such was the case with the Housing Authority of Joliet, located in Joliet, IL. Since the housing authority’s security force is limited and local police cannot be everywhere, an innovative and cost-effective solution was required. The solution was to install a video surveillance system that would not only record criminal activity, but deter it.

Since its inception over 20 years ago, Youth Villages has been providing guidance for troubled children and their families through an array of rehabilitating services including in-home counseling, residential treatment facilities, and adoption and foster care programs. A non-profit organization, Youth Villages boasts 41 facilities spanning six states where children are treated for behavioral problems, substance addiction, and overcoming physical or sexual abuse.

As a 150 year-old, family-run business, Sabel Steel places a high value on trust. Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, the company boasts six steel service centers, two scrap yards, a rebar fabrication division and a wholesale center. Yet despite its size, this progressive, independent company, owned and operated by fifth-generation members of the Sabel family, prides itself on personal service and corporate integrity. Unfortunately, its trustful corporate culture was not sufficient to prevent periodic breakins and events such as a “customer” attempting to sell scrap metal stolen from the company back to itself for recycling. Ultimately, management decided that it was time to invest in a surveillance system.

The benefits of Internet Protocol (IP) technology are driving a major change in the video management and surveillance field. Organizations are interested in IP video surveillance for: high quality recordings; fast search and retrieval; easy maintenance; freedom from dealing with tapes.

Technology in the security market today is changing. Bottom line. Look around you. Cameras, locks, doors, card readers, et al. are now part of the IT network. Some of you already know what benefits IP-based security brings to the table because you have already implemented these very products at your organization, but a major portion of you are still learning about what IP is. And how about the rest of you — yes, you — who understand the benefits but are looking at the investment you made in an analog system, maybe only five years ago. How are you going to convince your CEO to spend money on upgrading to IP?

Assessing the readiness of a network to support IP video surveillance can be a daunting task for both experienced IT engineers and physical security professionals. Understanding these technologies, design requirements, and best practices will keep the network from being the bottleneck to IP video security. There are several necessary steps to designing a network, whether new or existing, so that it is capable of supporting IP video.

In both retail operations and the sales floor, the competition is fierce and the profit margins are slim. To stay on top, retailers have to seize every advantage they can. This often means adopting the latest technological advances as they become available. That’s why today nearly every aspect of retail operations, from inventory to hiring, is computerized and networked. Now is the time to add video surveillance to the list.

Assessing the readiness of a network to support IP video surveillance can be a daunting task for both experienced IT engineers and physical security professionals. Understanding these technologies, design requirements, and best practices will keep the network from being the bottleneck to IP video security. There are several necessary steps to designing a network, whether new or existing, so that it is capable of supporting IP video.

Worldwide Port and Maritime operations and their associated facilities and infrastructure collectively represent one of the single greatest unaddressed challenges to the security of nations and the global economy today. The reason that ports and shipping activity are so difficult to secure lies primarily in their topography. Ports are typically large, asymmetrical activities dispersed over hundreds of acres of land and water so that they can simultaneously accommodate ship, truck and rail traffic, petroleum product/liquid offload, storage or piping, and container storage. The movement of freight, cargo (solid or liquid), and transport through a port is generally on a “queuing” system, meaning that any delay snarls all operations1. Whether or not delays are related to security, security generally falls by the wayside in the interest of time management or convenience.

As a general statement, the purpose of a guard tour system is to ensure that security officers are present at specific locations at specific time intervals; to prove that the officers were or were not present at those locations at those time intervals; and to provide documentation of those facts. The guard tour system may, as an option, allow the documentation to (1) indicate the names of the officers performing the tours, and (2) permit the officers to record events or conditions that they observe while performing the tours. Such events or conditions (“incidents”) generally pertain to security, safety, maintenance or operational issues.

Develop a Uniform Program that Will Score with your Officers and with your Clients.

The Train Rider Detection System (TRiDS™) automatically captures inspects and processes real time images from freight trains moving at speeds of up to 70 mph, digitally searching for unauthorized riders and minimizing the need to stop trains for inspections - with the objective to maintain train velocity throughout the route. Three levels of technology combine to form TRiDS™, providing highest level of accuracy, minimizing false alarms, and offering the optimum solution for intrusion detection:

This article describes techniques for developing and implementing effictive information security procedures.