Convergence in today's security environment

Dec 5, 2006 4:31 PM

           

Here are some timely questions and answers on convergence from Brian McAuley, security and surveillance solutions lead at IBM, and Shaun Illingworth, director of business development for March Networks. The discussion includes the emerging role of "network service providers," and when we can expect an all-IT security world.

Q: How is the convergence of physical and IT security actually happening today?

McAuley: Clients are embracing not only the technical transformation from analog to digital video, but also the incremental value that integration brings when all security systems are managed at the enterprise level -- for example, intrusion, access control, asset management, HVAC and legacy applications such as Human Resource ERP tools.

Illingworth: Convergence is happening today on several levels. First, we are seeing convergence in the enterprise -- CIO's taking the lead on physical and network security. Many of the top enterprises worldwide have made the CIO the corporate lead. Second, we are seeing convergence between applications -- traditional physical security applications like access control or CCTV being associated with inventory or back-office data like POS to provide greater situational knowledge. Finally, we are seeing convergence of suppliers. IT resellers are now adopting physical security applications, and traditional security dealers are selling managed services.

Q: What are the driving forces behind the convergence?

Illingworth: The development of IP-based security systems is fundamental to convergence. CCTV and access control no longer exist on separate or overlay proprietary networks. Security teams must now look to, and work with, IT teams to provision and manage IP devices on the corporate network. However, in the enterprise, convergence has a ROI. Security guards watching for unlocked computers and IT managers provisioning the network for video are examples of each group using their core skills for a greater cause.

McAuley: Once digital security systems are transferred onto an enterprise's LAN, it is only a matter of time until all the processes and organizational responsibilities are, in some form, managed under a single entity. This migration path is being driven by an increasingly complex enterprise to oversee, by the inability to distinguish between many IT and physical security issues, by new compliance and regulatory laws, and, of course, by the need to reduce cost.

Q: What are the keys to success for physical security and IT to work well together?

McAuley: Both departments bring strengths, which must be capitalized on to address the inherent challenges in the other group's business. But managing convergence needs to be slow and measured. For instance, IT Security has technical expertise but not large numbers of staff. Physical security generally has the opposite.

Illingworth: Physical security and IT security each holds skills and knowledge the other does not. As mentioned earlier, security guards watching for unlocked computers or unapproved network connections can only be identified with the help of IT. Likewise, IT can help security managers plan reliable storage and disaster recovery with least impact on the overall network. A CIO who recognizes these strengths and capitalizes on them through a security "task force" or multi-disciplinary team is well positioned.

Q: What role are network service providers playing in this new dynamic?

McAuley: They already have the expertise to accept and manage physical security's technology over the LAN. The credentials are common for both door and logical access. So integrating logical and physical applications (i.e. tying physical and logical ID systems to the HR system) is not a problem, but simply an extension of their current responsibilities.

Illingworth: Network service providers are the "new entrants" in the physical security domain. While companies like Brinks and ADT have been around for over 100 years, NSP's are newcomers, having followed the IP evolution into this marketplace. Not only can they speak IP and the network implications of the new technology, they typically have existing relations with the CIO. They are also very good integrators -- the variety of devices, applications and services in a corporate network is mind-boggling. NSPs take to integration naturally. Network service providers can also leverage their networking expertise in designing efficient disaster recovery solutions, network storage solutions, and remote access tools. Ultimately NSPs will have the ability to offer quality of service and fully managed systems to customers with the reporting tools similar to traditional network equipment.

Q: Cameras may be the primary security device in a surveillance environment, but what other devices act as network appliances?

McAuley: Security integration encompasses a surprising array of technologies and devices: Video systems require an understanding of photographic requirements, cabling technologies, lens selection, encoders and digital video recorders. Video software that manages multiple cameras and venues also requires careful consideration. Video analytic software can help reduce video monitoring fatigue by sending alarms when pre-determined conditions are programmed in to the video recorder. Clients are integrating digital alarm panels, card access systems and HVAC into command and control centers. Asset tagging, too, can be integrated depending on the operating requirements.

Illingworth: Cameras are nothing without access, awareness and recording. Access control systems that admit/deny entrance based on a given profile inform operators who to look at. Biometrics and recognition systems increase the available decision-making information. Perimeter detection systems can be programmed to drive camera focus based on activity, and advanced video analytics can in some cases distinguish between a threat and a benign event. All of these technologies have made the transition to IP and are now part of the converged application set that an enterprise has to choose from.

Q: How far away is the market from truly adopting an all-IP solution?

McAuley: The industry is currently transitioning from an analog security infrastructure to a fully-deployed digital base. To make the best financial decision possible, clients are opting to keep many analog cameras in place but are upgrading to digital video recorders to garner the advantages of collaborative imaging. These hybrid systems will, in the next three to five years, transition to fully digital systems as the price, features and performance of digital cameras improve.

Illingworth: Some industry sectors will lead into full IP networked solutions, others will follow. "Green field" installations are obviously fertile ground for all IP solutions. Others look to maximize the investment made in coax cabling and cameras, replacing only the recording medium with a networked solution -- achieving many of the same goals of an all IP solution. There is a massive amount of analog cameras installed today and it will take time to replace that investment. The camera market is probably 4-5 years behind the recorder market, which crossed the 50-50 mark (digital-analog) about 3 years ago. Today the vast majority of recorders sold today are digital.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

SUBSCRIBE

Select an Issue April 1, 2008 March 1, 2008 February 1, 2008 January 1, 2008 December 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 1, 2007 August 1, 2007 July 1, 2007 June 1, 2007 IP Security Supplement May 1, 2007 April 1, 2007 March 1, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 1, 2007 School Security December 1, 2006 November 1, 2006 October 1, 2006 September 1, 2006 August 1, 2006 July 1, 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 1, 2006 March 1, 2006 February 1, 2006 January 1, 2006 December 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 October 1, 2005 September 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 July 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 May 1, 2005 April 1, 2005 March 1, 2005 February 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 December 1, 2004 November 1, 2004 October 1, 2004 September 1, 2004 August 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 June 1, 2004 May 1, 2004 April 1, 2004 March 1, 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 October 1, 1997 September 1, 1997 August 1, 1997 July 1, 1997 June 1, 1997 May 1, 1997 April 1, 1997 March 1, 1997 February 1, 1997 January 1, 1997

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue