Keyscan Aurora Software Update
Whitby, ON. – Keyscan, Inc., a leading access and security solutions provider, has enhanced its Aurora access control software with value-add new features and additional integration options.
With Version 1.0.14, now available for download, customers will benefit from 130 new features, enhancements and changes, including:
- Kaba E-Plex Wireless lock native integration
- Keyscan Aurora 1.0.14 natively integrates with E-Plex® wireless locks, providing a true hybrid access control solution using the same credentials as Keyscan access control systems.
- Additional language support
- Keyscan Aurora is now available in French, Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
- Web cam support
- The software now supports Microsoft® certified web cams that will function seamlessly with Aurora’s built-in photobadging feature.
- Support for CA150WLN access control unit
- Designed to support select third-party wireless locks, Aurora 1.0.14 gives users even more selection when fulfilling their security needs.
- New reports and new export options
Customers can run group access reports, among dozens of others. And, you can export cumulative hours and transactions to a CSV file for easy importation to third-party software.
These updates and the many others in Version 1.0.14 apply to Keyscan Aurora, Keyscan Aurora Client and Web Client, Aurora Communications, Aurora Agent, Database Maintenance and the Aurora SDK.
For a full list of new additions, enhancements and changes visit http://keyscan.ca/English/PDFs/Download/AuroraEnhancements10140.pdf.
“This new software release offers many new capabilities and enhancements to serve the changing needs our customers,” said James Duff, Product Marketing Manager at Keyscan. “To ensure that Keyscan access control systems perform optimally and provide the full suite of available features and functions, we encourage all users to update their software to this latest version.”
To upgrade your Keyscan Aurora access control system to Version 1.0.14, download the software update at http://keyscan.ca/English/DownloadAurora.html.
For more information about the new release, contact the Keyscan technical support team at 905-430-7226. To learn more about Keyscan’s access control solutions, visit http://www.keyscan.ca.
Farpointe Readers Meet New Federal Guideline
Sunnyvale, Calif., USA Farpointe Data announces that its Pyramid P-640 proximity card reader with keypad, P-620 mullion style proximity card reader with keypad and Delta6.4 smart card reader with keypad meet the impending requirements for 2-factor authentication as described by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) federal guideline. Two-factor authentication is achieved because the card is something you carry and the PIN (Personal Identification Number) is something you know.
"Next year's deadline (Dec. 31, 2017) for incorporating the 2-factor solution is quickly approaching so we encourage our integrator partners to contact their federal contractor customers immediately," emphasizes Scott Lindley, president of Farpointe Data. "Whether the customer prefers a proximity, standard size or mullion, or smart card reader with keypad, we are often able to help our access control system partners by shipping any of these models in no more than three days to their integrators, thereby assisting their federal contractor customers meet the deadline and not be subject to a fine."
The new NIST SP800-171 guideline states in Section 3.5.3 that federal contractors must "use multifactor authentication for local and network access to privileged accounts and for network access to non-privileged accounts" or risk losing their contracts. This is to ensure only authorized individuals may have physical and logical access to critical assets. Strong two-factor authentication must be used for remote access to the networks, access to the physical security perimeter, access to the electronic security perimeter and access to specific critical assets.
The P-640 and P-620 proximity readers and Delta6.4 smart card reader carry lifetime warranties even though, in federal applications, many of the readers are slated to be used outdoors in dusty or humid environments. The card/keypad combinations are designed to meet IP67 certification and feature tamper-proof and weather-resistant epoxy potting to avoid problems with dust, mist or water. They work in temperature extremes from -40°F to +149°F (-40°C to +65°). With distinctive blue backlit keys, the 2-factor validation solutions are very easy to read in dark environments.
More Information: www.farpointedata.com.
Ilco Motorcycle and RV Key Blank Reference
Ilco announces the release of its updated Motorcycle and RV Key Blank Reference (includes outboard motor, snow mobiles, golf carts and more). This reference is available for immediate download from the Ilco website at http://tinyurl.com/ilcokeys.
Printed copies are available from your Ilco distributor.
ASSA ABLOY Acquires Construction Specialties
ASSA ABLOY has acquired Construction Specialties, a leading direct sales company within commercial sectional doors and docking products in the U.S. and Mexico.
"I am very pleased that Construction Specialties is joining the ASSA ABLOY Group. I welcome this addition that further reinforces the ASSA ABLOY Group’s leadership in entrance automation, where our sales have grown from SEK 3 billion in 2008 to SEK 20 billion in 2016”, says Johan Molin, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.
“Construction Specialties has a strong team of well experienced people and a solid market position. It is another important step for our growth in North America” says Juan Vargues, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of Division Entrance Systems.
Construction Specialties was established in 1994 and has some 140 employees. The company is headquartered in Brownsville, Texas, but has its main business in Mexico.
Sales for 2016 are expected to reach $34 million (approx. SEK 300 million) with a good EBIT margin. The acquisition will be accretive to EPS from start.
Sonitrol Announces UL/ULC Approved Glass Break Analytics
INDIANAPOLIS- Further solidifying Sonitrol as the industry leader in audio intrusion alarm detection, Sonitrol is the first systems manufacturer to release a UL/ULC approved product that uses a reprogrammable software glass-break analytic algorithm to initiate alarms.
Continued research in the use of analytics has enabled Sonitrol to improve glass-break functionality and now incorporate glass-break detection algorithms in its firmware on the host panel (FlexIP) and the audio module (Audio-8 PRO) using a lower cost audio sensor as the detection device.
This advanced technology includes:
- Advanced audio analytic behavior algorithms to identify glass sounds, as opposed to utilizing hardware components
- Distributed analytics that reside both on the host panel and the audio module
- Advanced discrimination of breaking glass during business hours as part of a 24-hr security level
- Built-in diagnostics to efficiently test an audio sensor’s ability to detect glass break alarms during installation and service
- Self-calibration, minimizing technician installation and service time
“For 52 years, Sonitrol has been a pioneer in the art of verified audio alarm detection,” said Jeremy Morton, Vice President of Business Development – STANLEY Security. “Ground-breaking innovation such as this, paves the way for Sonitrol to further our ability to accurately verify alarm events and respond accordingly, ultimately resulting in more criminal apprehensions and elevated protection for our users.”
Sonitrol’s technology partner, 3xLOGIC, developed the glass break algorithm. Their Engineering team broke hundreds of panes of various types of glass, allowing them to ascertain an extensive knowledge base in audio analytics.
“The possibility to introduce further sound analytics opens the door to a number of other opportunities in the future, to respond to users growing security needs.” Charlie Erickson, Executive Vice President of Product Management – 3xLOGIC, said, “The Sonitrol FlexIP design platform is uniquely positioned to provide future enhanced analytic possibilities by merely downloading a new algorithm to previously installed hardware.”
For more information, visit www.sonitrol.com.
Boon Edam Turnstiles Wins Peru Account
Lillington, NC– Boon Edam Inc., a global leader in security entrances and architectural revolving doors, today announced that the real estate company Urbanova has standardized on Boon Edam turnstiles for all its Lima, Peru buildings.
The real estate firm’s objective was to have an access control system that eases the control function for building guards with simple, robust equipment and a design consistent with the intended image of its buildings: solidity and modernity.
Urbanova is currently the leading real estate corporation in Peru, when it comes to the development of prime office buildings. The office buildings developed by Urbanova represent leasable space of 146,000 square meters (1.57 million sq. ft.) distributed over 11 buildings. All told, Boon Edam entrances manage more than 15,000 visitors per day.
“In our buildings we use Speedlane 300 turnstiles by Boon Edam, which we have installed and integrated with Honeywell/Johnson Controls access control systems, to manage entry with access cards for our customers and visitors,” explained Giovanni Vitor Soares, Manager of Urbanova’s Office Business.
The relationship between Urbanova and Boon Edam began in 2013 with the installation of the first turnstiles at the Torre Begonias office, the most modern in Lima at that time, and the tallest building in the city (26 floors at 394 feet). In buildings built since 2013, the Boon Edam solutions were installed right at the initial construction stage. In the older buildings (three total), existing systems were replaced by Boon Edam entrances. “In all cases we have installed turnstiles, mostly all Speedlane 300 models, and currently Urbanova has 82 such turnstiles in all our projects,” said Soares.
Urbanova’s buildings are specially designed for use as first class corporate offices. Their buildings have LEED certifications, and are equipped with control centers monitoring the fire security system, CCTV, access control, and any trespassing in common areas, with surveillance personnel working 24 hours per day.
The company was looking for an access control system that was not based on traditional turnstiles, one that would allow every person access to its buildings (customers or visitors) by using an electronic card and requiring them to walk through the turnstiles. Urbanova sought to standardize on a system that would have a physical barrier to block access to unidentified people.
“The Boon Edam devices totally meet all of the mentioned requirements, therefore we chose them,” explained Giovanni.
According to Urbanova, the installation and integration with the access control systems were accomplished with relative ease. “The equipment is operating with a high level of performance and failures are rare,” said Giovanni. “As a result, where we are developing other building projects, we are considering the installation of these turnstiles.” Currently, Urbanova is working on a project which integrates the Boon Edam turnstiles with the visitor control system to allow visitors access via a QR code sent to their mobile phone.
Nortek Expands Manufacturing Capability
Carlsbad, CA – Nortek Security & Control, a leader in the security, smart home and wellness technology markets, announces today new executive staff additions and role changes to better position itself for continued growth, deliver faster product time to market, fuel more innovation, and serve a growing customer base. Additionally, Nortek Security & Control will be expanding its manufacturing capacity by 25 percent.
Dan Geiger has joined Nortek Security & Control as Senior Vice President of Sales. Geiger brings 30 years of alarm industry experience, most recently as a senior executive at iControl Networks, a cloud-based service provider. Geiger will lead Nortek Security & Control’s dealer and distribution sales channels as well as recruit new market entrants.
Robert Beliles has joined as Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing. With IT and Building Systems experience, Beliles served in executive roles with Tyco, Hewlett Packard, and Cisco Systems.
“Dan and Robert bring more cloud-based services and IoT technology insight to the Nortek Security & Control executive management team,” said Mike O’Neal, President of Nortek Security & Control.
Duane Paulson assumed the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Strategic Development.
“Our partners are essential to our growth whether they are dealers, ecosystem providers, or service companies. This role ensures our partners get the support they need,” said O’Neal. “With the enhanced team and new structure, we are strategically positioned to take our business to the next level.”
Nortek Security & Control announced the expansion of its ISO 9001:2008-compliant manufacturing capacity by 25 percent. As part of Nortek Security & Control’s strategy, the company designs and manufactures products under its family of brands (2GIG®, Linear®, GoControl® and Numera®), as well as provides OEM and ODM contract manufacturing services for branded and private labelled security and home automation products.
More Information: www.nortekcontrol.com.
Digi Security Systems Secures Jail, Courthouse
When Payne County, OK, found that the video security system installed in its new jail and existing county courthouse did not meet their current or planned future surveillance needs, they opted to replace it. Oklahoma-based Digi Security Systems was selected to design and install a new system. The system cost far less than competing options, and provides the flexibility and high-quality integration they needed to meet expanding needs.
The NVR solution provided by Digi is capable of consolidating all of the customer’s video recorder units into one unit. Additionally, Digi’s NVR system gives Payne County the ability to add higher quality cameras, manage the system centrally from a single unit, and give access to multiple users. As a result, it effectively solves the issues that had been plaguing the county’s prior system.
“We needed to be able to expand the system to keep pace with the growing needs of the County, both within the jail and courthouse facilities and elsewhere,” said Captain Kevin Woodward of the Payne County Sheriff’s Office. “Our goal was to cost-effectively integrate the 80 analog cameras we already had installed into a new system, as well as to have flexibility in replacing them as they aged.”
By switching from a DVR system to an NVR one, Payne County reduced the amount of cabling runs and therefore the labor associated with installing and maintaining the system. In addition, the NVR system allows Payne County greater flexibility and scalability in the number of cameras being used in the system, since they are no longer constrained by the number of ports in the DVRs.
The new system is easier to use and provides investigators with far greater access to video footage, leading to improved overall safety and security. For example, they are now able to view hallways, as well as opening and closing doors. The system also lets them identify guards as they approach a door, and provides in-cell activity monitoring and security during moving of inmates.
Since the initial installation, the Sheriff’s Office has incorporated a second, 18-TB server, as well as approximately 50 2 megapixel (MP) HD Micro Dome cameras by Avigilon. The system was also expanded from the jail and courthouse to include other county buildings, all integrated into a single electronic security system.
