Integrated security: The future of CCTV and Access Control?

The vast majority of functionalities across security systems are common. So, why are you still working with multiple independent systems?

The Security Center blends Genetec’s IP ANPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition), CCTV video surveillance, and access control systems, AutoVu, Omnicast and Synergis, within a single innovative solution.

Break free from running multiple client applications, or working with cluttered desktops. You no longer have to deal with inefficiencies that result from inconsistent workflows and limited integrated functionality.

Instead, you can experience the simple and compelling performance of an ultra-modern solution. The Security Center offers you a single unified interface designed around simplicity of operation.

The unified security platform will streamline every facet of managing your business, physical security and public safety applications. It’s simply that powerful.

Key Features

Unified Security Interface: The Security Desk is the unified user interface of the Security Center. Its compelling design and innovative task-based approach allow you to efficiently control and monitor multiple security and public safety applications.

Distributed Client-Server Architecture: Benefit from high configuration flexibility with the Security Center. Distribute services and client applications across several servers or off-the-shelf workstations.

Scalable Multi-Site Monitoring: Unify multiple independent video and access control systems under a single virtual system with the Federation feature. Federate hundreds or thousands of remote systems for city-wide surveillance and managed central monitoring services.

Active Directory Integration: Centralize management and synchronization of Windows user accounts with the Security Center’s user and cardholder accounts. Provide single sign-on capabilities and ensure newly created Windows users automatically inherit the proper physical building access rights

Centralized Alarm Management: Avoid the traditional approach of separate alarm monitoring applications with unsynchronized data for your different security systems. Configure, monitor and respond to alarms for your entire security environment.

Multi-Tenant Functionality: Segment operations per tenant or managed services account, and assign privileges per site with the Partioning feature. Give individual site managers or tenants their own sites to manage in parallel to any centralized monitoring.

Visual Tracking: Switch from one camera to an adjacent camera within a viewing tile when tracking a suspect, either in real-time or playback mode.

Genetec Software Development Kit (SDK): Integrate building management systems, enterprise resource planning systems, intrusion detection systems or develop custom business applications with the Security Center’s open SDK.

Advanced Reporting Capabilities: Generate a variety of integrated LPR, video and access control reports without the use of external third-party reporting tools.

For more information about the Security Center download the Security Center brochure.

If you have any questions or would like systems requirement info, supported hardware etc. or need help specifying the right management system to meet your needs call us on 0844 225 9 225 or email Controlware for expert advice.

Genetec Security Center 5.0 released and available from Controlware

Genetec, a leader in innovative IP security and public safety solutions, announces the release of the latest version of its unified security platform, Security Center 5.0.

With this latest release, the Security Center now supports an embedded video recording and streaming engine. Additional features include, among others, an enhanced architecture that facilitates the installation and maintenance of the platform, third-party intrusion integration of alarm panels and perimeter detection devices, a new plug-in architecture for adding third-party integrations, standby and redundant archiving capabilities.

One of the most significant enhancements is the addition of Genetec’s next generation video and streaming engine within the unified platform, continuing to benefit from the power of Genetec’s industry-leading video surveillance system, Omnicast. With Security Center 5.0, customers will now be able to configure and manage IP cameras and encoders, recording schedules, camera settings, and much more. More importantly, the same configuration application can be used to configure the Security Center’s Synergis access control and AutoVu license plate recognition systems. Benefits that naturally flow out of the Security Center’s architecture include the use of common features across all platforms, consistent workflows for configuration and reporting activities, reduced training costs, and most importantly, a single interface for monitoring all your security and safety applications.

“Security Center 5.0 brings to the market Genetec’s latest video management engine based on our Omnicast 4 platform but with significant enhancements with respect to video streaming, rendering, and recording,” says Jimmy Palatsoukas, Senior Product Manager at Genetec. “We have also worked diligently to expand, as well as to enhance the deployment and maintenance capabilities of the system. The end result is not just a platform that provides the highest level of security, but also one that is easy to deploy, configure, and use on a daily basis.”

With the aim of expanding the unification capabilities of the platform, this latest release of the Security Center now supports the integration of third-party intrusion panels through an intrusion devices protocol or API. Users can not only arm and disarm panels manually or configure arming on a schedule, but they can also run intrusion reports to view an alarm panel’s events and alarms. What’s more, the addition of an intrusion driver kit will allow Genetec to integrate additional intrusion devices without requiring a new Security Center release. The addition of a plug-in engine will also enable Genetec to add new video analytics, third-party access control, and point-of-sale integrations when needed and with a short turnaround time. Lastly, a web-based software development kit will allow Genetec’s customers to develop platform-independent applications and interfaces for various operating environments.

On the user interface side, the Security Center now supports task sharing for operators to share their monitoring and reporting tasks with other operators in real-time, enhanced video thumbnail support, and advanced video caching that supports full-frame playback to dramatically improve the operator`s experience all around. A new system status monitoring task allows operators and administrators alike to monitor the real-time state of cameras, doors, intrusion panels, client applications and servers thereby having a clear picture of the entire security environment.

Security Center along with Omnicast (CCTV video management), Synergis (Access Control) and AutoVu (ANPR) are available from Controlware. Call +44 (0)1635 884800 for more information or email video(at)controlware.co.uk.

Upgrading CCTV from analogue to IP is easy with encoders

Encoders – the easy way to move CCTV to IP Encoders convert analogue CCTV to IP video and provide an easy way to upgrade your analogue to IP. You can acquire all the benefits that digital technology offers while retaining your investment in your system. As leading value-added distributors of IP CCTV products and systems Controlware provide a wide range of product options to suit all requirements and budgets together with the advice and support to future-proof your CCTV.       Axis encoders combine high quality video encoding with a low cost per channel making them an extremely attractive choice. Axis encoders are ideal for bandwidth efficient, high density encoding requirements. Find out more here or call 0844 225 9 225 for best prices.         Bosch provides a range of new H.264 highly single channel and multi-channel video encoders. Bosch encoders combine high reliability, optional video analytics and all the components for a complete end to end solution. Find out more here or call 0844 225 9 225 for best prices.       Siqura by Optelecom-NKF encoders provide single channel and multi-channel encoders built for tough environments and temperature ranges. The range includes video encoders, flexible install options such as CCTV over fibre and modular switches that are all housed in a universal chassis. Find out more here or call 0844 225 9 225 for best prices. Need help selecting the right encoder for you? Controlware has been at the forefront of IP systems for more than a decade. During this time we have developed our value added services to assist installers and integrators. Technical services including specification, system design and support ensures that you benefit from the best technical solution at the right price point. Call 0844 225 9 225 or email us with your solution requirements today and we can advise the right product or system for you. Controlware and the Controlware Logo are registered trademarks of Controlware Group. Controlware UK – Unit 2B, Votec Centre, Hambridge Lane, Newbury, RG14 5TN. Ph 0844 225 9 225

CCTV Overstock offer

January Offer Bosch Video Encoder Overstock DUE TO OVERSTOCKING - Controlware has a limited supply of new Bosch encoder’s at EXCLUSIVE prices VIP X1 single channel encoder VIP X1600 multi channel encoder VIP XD video decoder Contact us today to discuss your requirements at exclusive prices while limited stocks last! Bosch CCTV products are well known for their quality and durability and are ideal for CCTV systems and security requirements of all sizes. Controlware provide all the assistance you need to select the right Bosch CCTV product based on more than 15 years experience with the product range. You can be assured that you will get the highest quality assistance to select the products that meet your needs at the best possible prices. As a value added distributor Controlware provide not just market leading products from leading CCTV manufacturers but services such as free system design, consultancy and support services. NEED ADVICE OR PRICING? Call Controlware and save ££££ on 0844 225 9 225 quoting reference Q104

Controlware and the Controlware Logo are registered trademarks of Controlware Group. Controlware UK – Unit 2B, Votec Centre, Hambridge Lane, Newbury, RG14 5TN. Ph 0844 2259225

Holiday seasons greetings from Controlware

December Controlware wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Seasons greetings from Controlware UK 2010 has been a busy and successful year in which we have provided a number of new and extensions to existing CCTV systems. All of the projects we have been involved with have benefited from our extensive experience as a technology leader for IP based CCTV systems allowing us to advise which products and configurations are best suited for each project. In this way we have worked closely with users and installers, clarifying technical specifications and helping to develop integrated solutions that meet Operational Requirements by not only delivering high quality video images but the latest recording and management features too. The latest CCTV research by Frost & Sullivan, IMS, MBD and others is forecasting that IP is the future for CCTV and that IP technology will drive future growth. We have spoken many times about the benefits of IP CCTV prompting industry-wide debate most notably with “The true cost of IP CCTV” in which we challenged Mike Newton’s (Dedicated Micros CEO) claims that IP CCTV was expensive and unreliable. A series of follow up articles including “CCTV Video Image Quality is Everything” and “Is IP cost competitive?” led to more debate both online in theLinkedin forums, on the Controlware Blog and in print. As we look to continued growth in the New Year I would like to thank you for your support in 2010 and wish you and your families every happiness this Christmas on behalf of the Controlware team. Best Wishes & season’s greetings,   Controlware   Holiday office opening times From the afternoon of the 24th December to 4th January 2011 The sales and marketing office is closed The support desk remains contactable on the out of hours number for 24/7 support as normal. Follow us on Twitter Sign up for the Linkedin CCTV group Read the news, views and opinion on the Controlware Blog Forward to a friend

Solutions for CCTV transmission over an IP network

How to get CCTV video across the network

There are essentially three ways of transmitting video streams over the network from the source to the destination: broadcast, unicast and multicast.

Broadcast
Broadcast is defined as a one-to-all communication between the source and the destinations. In IP video surveillance, the source refers usually to the IP camera and the destination refers to the monitoring station or the recording server. In this case, broadcasting would mean that the IP camera would send the video stream to all monitoring stations and recording servers, but also to any IP devices on the network, even though only a few specific destination sources had actually requested the stream. Typically, this method of transmission is not commonly used in IP video surveillance applications, but can be seen more often in the TV broadcasting industry where TV signals are switched at the destination level.

Unicast
Unicast is defined as a one-to-one communication between the source and the destination. Unicast transmissions are usually done in TCP or UDP and require a direct connection between the source and the destination. In this scenario, the IP camera (source) needs to have the capabilities to accept many concurrent connections when many destinations want to view or record that same video at the same time.
In terms of video streaming in unicast transmission, the IP camera will stream as many copies of the video feed requested by the destinations. In figure 1 below, three copies of the same video stream are sent over the network; one copy for each of the three destinations requesting the stream. If each video stream is 4 Mbps, this transmission will produce 12 Mbps (3x4Mbps) of data on multiple network segments.

As a result, many destinations connected in unicast to a video source can result in high network traffic. In other words, if we imagine a large system with 200 destinations requesting the same video stream, we would end up having 800 Mbps (200x4Mbps) of data travelling over the network, which is realistically unmanageable. Although this method of transmission is widely used over the Internet where most routers are not multicast-enabled, within a corporate LAN, unicast transmission is not necessarily the best practice as it can quickly increase the bandwidth needed for viewing and recording camera streams.

Multicast
In multicast transmission, there is no direct connection between the source and the destinations. The connection to the video stream of the IP camera is done by joining a multicast group, which in simple terms means actually connecting to the multicast IP address of the video stream. So the IP camera only sends a single copy of the video stream to its designated IP address and the destination simply connects to the stream available over the network with no additional overhead on the source. In other words, the destinations share the same video stream. In figure 2 below, the same three destinations requesting the video stream have the same impact on the network as a single destination requesting the stream in unicast and there is no more than 4 Mbps of data travelling on each segment of the network. Even with 200 destinations requesting that video stream, the same amount of data would be travelling on the network.

It is evident at this point that using multicast transmissions in an IP video surveillance application can save a lot of bandwidth, especially in large scale deployments where the number of destinations can grow very quickly. To find out more contact Controlware.

Using an IP network for CCTV transmission

Investigating the importance of bandwidth optimisation for IP CCTV

When it comes to IP video surveillance, it is important to efficiently manage the way video streams are transmitted over the network in order not to overload the available bandwidth. Even though IT infrastructures are built to handle any kind of data, the applications generating traffic over the IP network need to be conducive with the efficient utilization of the network resources in place. To this end, different functionalities and mechanisms are offered by IP video surveillance solution providers to allow optimization of bandwidth and network resources such as:

• Multicasting

• Multistreaming

• Video compression

Even though the capacity and speed of the network are constantly increasing and its associated costs are declining, this is still not a good reason for users to ignore the additional investments and efforts needed to optimise bandwidth management. The amount of data travelling on the network is also still on the rise and therefore, investments in bandwidth optimization are ones that can contribute to a reduction in total cost of ownership, specifically in respect to efficiency gains and maximized resources.

For example, in video surveillance, more and more end-users are requesting cameras with higher picture quality and resolution, often opting for high-definition and megapixel cameras. These types of cameras require much more bandwidth than standard definition cameras. Also, more and more people inside as well as outside an organization’s walls are requesting access to video streams over the network. In the case where a large number of users are simultaneously trying to access a specific video stream, efficient use of network resources can be crucial in avoiding overloaded capacity and entire network crashes.

It is equally important to realize that optimizing the bandwidth on the network does not necessarily go hand in hand with large capital investments, but is more a matter of putting the right solutions in place and leveraging the unique and powerful capabilities of these solutions. There are simple ways to optimize bandwidth management in IP video surveillance, contact Controlware UK to learn more on 0844 225 9 225 .

IP CCTV manufacturing plant – case study – Health and Safety, security and process control benefits

Steel plant benefits from IP CCTV system that improves proccess control, security and safety

New system IP based CCTV system for steelworks that produces over 5 million tones of steel a year, and is situated on a 35km square site employing up to 6000 people. As one of the world’s most technically advanced producers of high quality steel slab, plate and strip products the steelworks wanted to introduce CCTV to monitor production processes and to ensure Health and Safety policies were being followed.

Having looked at analogue, hybrid and IP based CCTV systems the steelworks selected an IP based system because it allowed them to easily integrate CCTV with their existing network and CCTV cameras while benefiting from cost-saving technologies such as PoE (Power over Ethernet), UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies), iSCSI recording through RAID arrays that provide a 100% fail proof redundancy and support for the latest megapixel CCTV camera resolution that is only available with IP cameras.

This system is based on the Controlware Cware management platform, further details about this project can be found here.

IFSEC prompts IP CCTV costs argument

Meeting with many CCTV users at IFSEC last week the main topic of conversation again revolved around the cost of adopting IP CCTV.

It is a topic I have touched on before when a CCTV manufacturer insisted that IP CCTV would cost £1.8M for a 750 camera system compared to £600k for his analogue based one. Given that IP vs. analogue costs are still topical it seems fitting to look at these arguments again.

From the customer’s perspective, there are three main deployment scenarios for moving to IP: (1) integrating existing analogue cameras within an IP backbone via video encoders, (2) migrating existing analogue installations to IP over the life cycle of the system and finally, (3) installing a completely pure IP solution that meets the project needs, budget and allows for future proofing.   All scenarios present challenges in both planning and deployment, but these can be identified early enough to ensure that there are no surprises.

Through good system design each scenario can be deployed in a number of ways – central storage, distributed storage, failover, redundancy, and remote high quality recording / low quality live view are all possible.  These solutions can easily be implemented across existing infrastructure (without impacting IT services), or new IP CCTV deployments with the use of networking functionality such as VLAN’s (the ability to create separate “virtual” LANs on the same switch) or by utilising low cost switches to create a separate LAN for the surveillance system.

In order to dispute the assertion that a 750 IP based camera system would cost £1.8m compared to alternatives, I have to make a few assumptions concerning the system, so we’ve put forward a high-end solution proposal as follows:

• 750 camera feeds
• 31 days retention of footage with 10% overhead for incident recordings.
• All video recorded at 24/7/365 at 4CIF / D1 at 25fps

Recordings are of average motion with 50% in view at any one time. By using H.264 encoding significant savings of between 50% and 80% over M-JPEG can be made by sending changes in video frames rather than full frames.

All cameras are in situ and connected via coax to local collection points and then high speed CAT5e or Cat6 cabling is installed back to a central command and control point.  As the system is mission critical 100% redundancy and failover are required.

Using a storage design tool demonstrates that only 116.2 TB of storage is needed – even when adding 10% overhead (approx 16TB), for incident recordings the storage is only approx 135 TB.  With 8 x 2TB iSCSI drive units you would only need 4-5 RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Discs) arrays running RAID 5 for recording. Then when we look at the required servers to process and record the cameras, using a COTS (computers off the shelf) manufacturer such as Dell or HP 64 camera feeds will only require 12 servers plus an additional one to handle system redundancy.

The use of iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) means that storage arrays are connected directly to the network backbone eliminating single point of failure issues that are common in the traditional DVR setup.  Should a drive lose connectivity, power or suffer systems failure then the network control software automatically starts to record its streams to another array seamlessly.  By coupling this with RAID even in the event of a drive failure the data is duplicated across multiple discs so that no footage is lost.

For the above configuration you simply need 2 x 48 port switches and the cabling to connect all your remote collection sites.  With the cost per port of switches falling even with high grade cabling all this could be installed for less than £25,000.  Even if you had to deploy this over a wide area other IP technologies such as wireless still make this a cost effective solution.

The most expensive part of an IP CCTV solution will always be the camera licensing, but as this is normally only around £150.00 per camera (Which is often for life – If you hardware fails you just reinstall.) I don’t see this as a major issue.

The final component is simply to add encoders to convert analogue camera signals to IP.  With the new ranges of IP encoders it is possible to convert these streams and transmit them using H.264 at a 12Mbps per group of 16 cameras.  Again the cost per channel for this is cost-effective at sub £200.00.

Even before we start to discuss the other benefits of IP solutions such as POE (reduced cabling costs and installation time), Intelligent deployments (Dynamic storage profiles, redundancy and integration with other hardware systems), or Intelligent Video (Analytics, integration with other software systems or improved user functionality), we can see that IP is the future for CCTV.  When we bring all this together – the recording servers, the software, the encoders, the transmission, display equipment and installation and commissioning I can confidently say that a high res, high frame rate IP solution for 750 cameras could be delivered at an End User price of less than £500,000.00 (+ VAT of course just to be 110% clear!).  The cost would be even lower at 5fps as the storage would be quartered and costs would be reduced on transmission and encoder technology with more cameras supported per server.

For more details and to receive a complete cost breakdown for this IP CCTV system, please send an email to ipcctv@controlware.co.uk. Also check out our range of IP cameras, video encoders and CCTV management software from manufacturers such as Bosch, Pelco, Samsung, Sanyo etc.

All you need for IP CCTV from one specialist distributor

CCTV cameras, encoders, software, recording systems, video analytics and networking equipment from leading brands

Controlware are a specialist distributor of IP CCTV and can assist with product selection, network design as well as CCTV VMS, recording systems and all the networking equipment you need from one place. With technology partners such as Axis, Bosch, JVC, Pelco, Samsung, Sanyo we can guide you through product options that suit your needs and provide all the networking equipment to make your system work.

Contact us today to understand how we can help CCTV benefit from IP.