The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked both excitement over its potential and concerns about its risks. As AI technology continues to evolve, various industries around the globe are exploring its potential applications.  

AI, which includes machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and rule-based expert systems (RBES), has the potential to revolutionise the security, operations, and health and safety of critical infrastructure, industrial sites, retail, and other industries.  

At Nextro, we are already leveraging AI, ML and video analytics to help our customers gain operational leverage and efficiency.  

In this blog post, the Nextro team shares some of its learnings to date, and takes an in-depth look at the benefits of leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning video analytics solutions to enhance physical security, operational efficiency, as well as health and safety compliance.  

Enhancing Physical Security with AI  

AI physical security applications enable security teams to perform their duties more efficiently and accurately across large datasets. Some well-known examples include:  

• Video Analytics: AI can analyse real-time video feeds to quickly identify unusual activities from people or vehicles such as loitering or intrusion, allowing security operators to focus on other tasks, increasing overall efficiency.  
• Face Recognition: AI systems can use biometric data to locate or recognise a person in real-time or from video archives. This is especially useful for law enforcement, retail crime prevention, or VIP use cases. It also can be used to generate highly-accurate dwell-time statistics 
• People Counting: Automating the counting of people in airports, train stations, stadia, large-footprint retail environments, and businesses aids in managing occupancy, monitoring queues, and alerting staff when necessary. This data assists in enhancing crowd control and understanding peak travel times in transit.  
• Traffic Flow Management: Using advanced AI technology, traffic flow is effectively managed at large venues, hospitals, and city areas. The system detects backups, promptly alerts staff to any issues, and seamlessly re-routes traffic or adjusts signage as needed to ensure optimal flow.  
• License Plate Recognition: Recognising license plates assists in investigations and enables touchless parking payment systems.  
• Object Detection: AI is used to detect objects to secure perimeters at critical infrastructure facilities, prevent smuggling in correctional facilities, and identify left luggage or bomb threats at airports and train stations.  
• Data Integration: AI systems have the capability to seamlessly integrate with diverse data sources including airport baggage systems, logistics systems, and smart building systems. This integration allows for the analysis, prediction, and proactive response to specific business situations. The data can also be seamlessly outputted to an enterprises own data lake and business intelligence systems for further analysis and reporting.  

Securing critical infrastructure and industrial sites from intrusion, theft, and sabotage is just the initial measure to safeguard production and operations. Sustaining ongoing operations also depends on a strategic and proactive approach to operational efficiency, adhering to health and safety regulations, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.  

AI’s Role in Enhancing Health and Safety  

AI-powered solutions offer far more than traditional methods to minimise disruptions, improve operational efficiency, and enhance health and safety procedures. From risk assessment to accident prevention, AI is reshaping how companies approach and implement health and safety practices.  

AI & Video Analytics Systems for Enhanced Safety Compliance  

The new generation of network cameras, thermal sensors, and access control systems, when paired with AI and analytics technologies, efficiently collect and analyse vast amounts of data. This results in faster and more effective safety interventions, not just in real-time events, but also for future protection, raising the bar for long-term site health and safety procedures.  

Key Applications: 

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Detection: AI can detect and confirm the presence or absence of required PPE, enabling workplaces to issue corrective actions and link to access control systems to prevent site access without proper PPE.  
• Restricted Area Monitoring: AI helps prevent incidents in restricted areas and confined spaces. Sensors can trigger equipment shutdowns and alert operations when detecting a person within a risk zone.  
• Early Fire Detection: AI supports fire detection with early recognition of smoke and fire, allowing prompt action.  
• Man-Down Detection: Analytics monitor the working environment for slips, falls, or collapses, mitigating risks in lone-worker scenarios and enabling swift response to incidents.  
• Blocked Exit Notification: AI systems, when paired with well-placed cameras, can detect objects blocking emergency exits or evacuation areas and send alerts. This reduces reliance on a human patrol of the back-of-house corridors and emergency egress points, saving time and money and allowing human resources to focus on more important tasks.  
• Leak Detection: AI monitors pipes, tanks, and equipment, sending alerts regarding potentially dangerous leaks using thermal technology.  
• Safety Regulations Compliance: AI analytics systems can automatically detect potential safety hazards, such as workers not wearing protective gear/PPE or unauthorised personnel in restricted areas, allowing prompt intervention and corrective actions.  

Utilising AI in High-Risk Sectors 

AI integration in high-risk fields exemplifies its potential to mitigate issues, create safer environments, and revolutionise approaches to challenging tasks in critical industries:  

• Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing: AI-driven systems use sensor data and ML algorithms to forecast equipment failures before they occur, enabling proactive maintenance, reducing downtime, and minimising accident risks.  
• Hazard Detection in Mining: AI-powered drones with advanced sensors and computer vision capabilities can survey mine sites and detect safety hazards, such as unstable terrain or toxic gas leaks, prioritising worker safety and enabling prompt threat response.  

Wearable Devices and Sensors for Worker Health Monitoring  

Specialised wearable devices are indispensable in safeguarding worker health in hazardous environments. In industries like construction, mining, and manufacturing, smart helmets equipped with sensors detect harmful gases, monitor environmental conditions, and assess potential head injuries. These wearables can automatically trigger alerts or emergency responses in case of accidents, ensuring timely assistance and preventing severe consequences. 

Disaster Response and Rescue Operations  

In high-risk situations, such as natural disasters or search-and-rescue operations, AI-powered drones and robots aid first responders in assessing situations, locating survivors, and navigating hazardous environments. These technologies enable more effective disaster response and help protect the safety of rescue teams.  

AI has significantly impacted workplace security and safety through its practical applications, paving the way for a future where protection and progress are intrinsically linked. The adoption of AI for health and safety in the workplace marks a significant shift in today’s organisations. AI-driven solutions offer predictive maintenance, real-time risk assessments, virtual reality training, and wearable devices to enhance workplace safety, mitigate risks, and boost productivity.  

By identifying safety hazards and empowering workers with AI-driven insights, organisations can foster a culture of prevention, creating a collaborative work environment where technology complements human capabilities.  

If you want to know more about how to use artificial intelligence, machine learning and camera analytics to safeguard your organisation, dramatically increase operational efficiencies, surface up business insights, and improve health and safety compliance, please get in touch with the Nextro team now.   

Sources: https://itbrief.com.au/story/ai-in-physical-security-opportunities-risks-and-responsibility
https://www.thedigitalspeaker.com/transformative-role-ai-revolutionising-workplace-health-safety/

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Nextro is proud to announce the successful go-live of the unified operations and security centre for our customer, Port Taranaki.  

This upgrade positions the port at the forefront of modern in-port maritime security and operational efficiency and is the result of a well-executed strategy by Port Taranaki’s security and operations team in pursuit of their vision for a unified operations centre powered by Genetec and Axis Communications.  

This state-of-the-art enhancement is a strategic shift that not only boosts port security, but also improves visibility and control of port operations, as well as enhancing health and safety.  

Enhancing Security in a Complex Environment 

Port Taranaki’s commitment to security is underscored by the Maritime Security Act 2004, which mandates rigorous measures such as restricted access and constant monitoring of perimeter and operations.  

Mark Stewart, the project manager for this upgrade, emphasised the critical nature of top-tier security: “Security at the top end is very, very important. If you don’t have security, you don’t have a port, because you are not meeting international obligations.” 

Unifying Security and Operations 

The heart of this upgrade is the newly established Security/Comms Room, which merges multiple facets of port operations and security into a centralised control hub at the Port Taranaki Centre.  

In this new comms room, Nextro, together with Port Taranaki’s team and other partners, has combined video surveillance, intercoms, access control, alarms, port operations, and emergency/fire systems into a single ops centre – materially improving overall visibility, control, efficiency and safety. 

Key additions include: 

Distributed Control System Integration: This allows for remote access to vital systems such as fire water systems, gas pipelines, and alarms, enhancing both safety and operational efficiency. 

Internet-Enabled Communication: The new setup replaces traditional radio systems and enables seamless communication over the Internet between the control room, incoming ships, and various port channels. 

Ultra-high-definition monitors: The installation of new 4K monitors provides clear and detailed visuals from the on-port video surveillance system. 

Expanded Monitoring Capabilities: With the number of screens increasing from three to 14, operators can now simultaneously monitor weather conditions, the Shore Tension mooring system, and multiple camera feeds. The system also supports footage review from the past 30 days, offering a robust tool for incident analysis and operational review. 

A Leap Forward in Operational Efficiency 

Mark Stewart describes the Genetec upgrade as a “massive step forward” from the previous system, highlighting the enhanced control, knowledge, and visibility it brings to port operations. “The comms and security officer is a very responsible position, so this upgrade assists them with their work, which is fantastic,” he added. 

The integration of these advanced systems means that all aspects of port operations, including customer assets and activities, are now meticulously monitored from a single, sophisticated centre. This ensures compliance with international security standards and significantly boosts the port’s operational efficiency and safety protocols. 

Future-Ready Security 

Nextro’s design ensures that Port Taranaki is well-prepared for future technological advancements. The infrastructure is built to accommodate additional tech enhancements, ensuring that the port remains at the forefront of maritime security and operations for years to come. 

Nextro’s successful upgrade of Port Taranaki’s security system marks a significant milestone in maritime safety and operational efficiency. This project exemplifies our commitment to delivering best-of-breed security solutions to protect critical infrastructure and commerce and enhance operational capabilities.  

Congratulations to Port Taranaki and the project team on the successful execution of their vision for a future-proofed, unified, security and operations platform that sits at the heart of Port Taranaki Centre. 

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Despite the lingering impact of pandemic-related disruptions, New Zealand businesses are pushing forward, reinforcing their risk management plans amidst labour shortages, supply chain complexities, and escalating physical and cybersecurity threats. 

At Nextro, we recognise physical security’s pivotal role in empowering businesses to achieve their goals. As we advance into 2024, we foresee the industry focusing on growth, emphasising agility, data optimisation, and resource efficiency. 

This blog post covers the top physical security trends to watch in 2024, as highlighted by Genetec’s State of Physical Security Report 2024. These include the integration of IT and physical security teams, physical security data democratisation, IIoT growth and data-optimised solutions, and the implementation of cybersecurity tools to enhance automation and risk detection.  

Read more to learn about these key trends and how they can help your business stay secure and increase operational efficiency. 

1. IT and physical security teams will join forces 

Physical security’s convergence with IT is accelerating. And it isn’t limited to technology anymore. 

Organisations will look to optimise collaboration between IT and physical security teams in the coming year. Bridging these two valuable skill sets will result in more effective risk mitigation and data optimisation across the organisation. And though there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, most will consider the following strategies: 

• Physical security leaders will expand their departments with IT expertise 
• Security Operations (SecOps) will broaden their function to address physical security risks and capitalise on data coming from both groups. 
• IT will bring physical security within their group and begin overseeing physical security mandates. 

As this human-centred convergence grows, so will the demand for unified, cloud-connected physical security solutions. This will give teams a comprehensive view of systems and evolving risks while helping them extract more value from data. 

2. The democratisation of physical security data will surge 

The democratisation of physical security data is well underway. More employees need to engage with physical security technologies and data than ever before. 

Genetec’s Physical Security Report 2024 shows that almost 40% of organisations are also struggling with physical security labour shortages. Gatekeeping access to specific tasks or information only compounds the strain on resources. 

As employee roles evolve in this digital era, organisations will seek more collaborative physical security technologies. They’ll want easy-to-use solutions that can support secure, limited-use applications for people outside of the security department. 

What could this look like? Crime-scene witnesses securely share video from their phones to a centralised evidence repository, or team leaders oversee access requests relevant to their department. 

For many organisations, this will lead to greater workforce augmentation across the enterprise. It will also help them expand the value of security investments to serve broader objectives. 

 3. Access control modernisation will top tech investments 

Modernising access control will remain a top priority in 2024. To ease upgrade complexities, many organisations will shift to a hybrid-cloud model and deploy cloud-ready access control solutions. This will deliver continuous innovation and cybersecurity updates that reinforce security from doors to networks.  

We’ll also see greater demand for open-access control solutions. More than ever, organisations want the freedom to add and connect the best technologies. In 2024, this will include everything from building management systems and life and safety solutions to human resource management software and mobile credentials, to name a few.  

Unifying access control with these various technologies can boost operational efficiencies and sustainability initiatives. They also allow employers to enhance the cardholder experience, one where everything feels more fluid and convenient.  

Many will also reach a breaking point in managing separate video and access control systems. Striving for more efficiencies, leaders will take steps towards system unification. This will simplify system monitoring and maintenance tasks, leading to higher output and cost savings across the enterprise.  

 4. Organisations will seek to maximise hybrid-cloud investment 

The physical security industry will see a large increase in hybrid-cloud adoption in 2024. Recent research found that 44% of organisations already have over a quarter of their physical security deployment in a cloud or hybrid-cloud environment. 

As cloud adoption rises, there’s a growing interest in new plug-and-play, cloud-ready appliances. They not only streamline access to cloud services but also enhance computing power at the edge. 

We’ll also see a larger focus on cloud data usage and associated costs. Those who are further along in their hybrid-cloud journey are seeking ways to optimise cloud spend. Many will lean on channel partners to explore use cases beyond security to maximise hybrid-cloud investments. 

5. Cities will become focused on building public trust 

In recent years, police departments have been struggling to hire and keep officers. To offset this problem, many cities are investing in new crime-fighting technologies. Everything from vehicle investigation systems and situational awareness platforms to drones and body-wearable devices helps boost efficiencies across public safety departments. 

Yet, as the use of technology expands across cities, so do public privacy concerns. In 2024, we’ll see a growing commitment from cities to build more public trust and strengthen privacy efforts. The following core strategies will be most helpful: 

• Choosing solutions built with Privacy by Design to gain more control over the data they collect, handle, and share. 
• Partnering with trusted technology vendors to ensure all lines of defence are optimised and systems are hardened. 
• Being more transparent about the steps to secure information and sharing metrics on how new tech investments enhance community safety. 
• Creating partnership programs that allow citizens to report incidents, offer feedback, and engage in community policing efforts. 

6. IIoT growth and data-optimised solutions will boom 

The number of physical security devices and other industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors coming into the market is accelerating. And across industries, organisations can’t get enough. IT and security experts want to expand the types of data within their security deployment. Beyond that, they’re looking to extract data from the systems holding it and build data lakes that serve future objectives. 

At this critical moment, those who opt for an API-centric, open architecture, along with a unified physical security platform, will stand to gain the most over time. This will give them the flexibility to combine and simultaneously analyse various sources of data on their own terms. Ultimately, this can help inform new data-driven strategies and maximise returns across all tech investments. 

During this data influx, many organisations will also look for ways to empower their operators and digitise current workflows. As a result, demand for physical security solutions with embedded analytics, automation tools, and visual dashboards will grow. 

7. Organisations will favour government-approved solutions 

According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million USD. And only one-third of companies were able to identify the breach through their own security teams. 

Moving into 2024, many organisations will use government directives and accredited certifications to guide technology decisions and scrutinise their supply chain. This will increase demand for government-approved, highly compliant physical security solutions. 

Today, the most stringent data protection requirements apply to government agencies and essential services. However, other organisations are paying close attention. 

By adopting similar strategies and solutions, they get access to the most advanced tools that help identify and contain threats faster. They can also prove trustworthiness by showing partners and customers they take cybersecurity seriously. The benefits are two-fold: stronger resilience and organisational continuity. 

8. Implementing cyber defences is an ongoing focus 

In 2023, 31% of end users indicated that their organisation was targeted by cybercriminals. And despite organisations improving cybersecurity practices, the level of concern continues to rise. 

In 2024, more organisations will implement cybersecurity tools that enhance automation and proactive risk detection. These could include monitoring cybersecurity dashboards to identify real-time vulnerabilities or using decision-support solutions to streamline and track maintenance tasks. 

The physical security industry has made strides in strengthening cyber resilience, but hardening physical security systems is a baseline necessity and an ever-evolving speciality.” 

At Nextro, our vision extends beyond physical security; it encompasses a future where businesses thrive, unburdened by uncertainties.  

We deploy best-of-breed technologies in our security solutions to fortify an organisation’s defences and safeguard its assets and people. We also help organisations integrate physical and cybersecurity into their business strategies and develop efficient detect-protect-and-respond action plans.  
 
If you want to discuss how Nextro can help address any of your physical security or cybersecurity needs, please get in touch with us today.  

To download the full State of Physical Security Report 2024 contact us here: 

Download now

The post Security Beyond Boundaries: Nextro’s Summary of Top Physical Security Trends for 2024 – from the Genetec Report  appeared first on Nextro.

According to Forbes specialists, cybercrime will cost the global economy more than $10.5 trillion by the end of 2024. This alarming prediction emphasises the increasing need for cybersecurity to be seen as a strategic priority at individual, organisational and governmental levels.

In the dynamic terrain of cybersecurity, 2024 will usher in a new wave of challenges and complexities, and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated.

Below, we have curated insights from leading external experts, the Nextro cybersecurity team, and industry publications to provide an in-depth understanding of the most imminent cybersecurity threats and reveal the crucial cybersecurity trends that demand immediate attention and proactive measures.

Supply Chain Software Attacks

Cybercriminals are capitalising on supply chain vulnerabilities to breach organisations. They target trusted vendors and suppliers to infiltrate the organisation’s networks. By using widespread breach tactics, cyberattacks infect software updates or inject malicious code into software to exploit indirect attack routes and eventually infiltrate targeted organisations.

To effectively combat this, it is imperative to implement a comprehensive strategy that includes maintaining a detailed inventory of software components, strict access controls, multi-factor authentication, data encryption, robust backups, and secure software development practices. Additionally, a proactive approach, such as implementing an incident response plan and continuous threat monitoring, will strengthen defences against supply chain software attacks.

IoT and the Expanding Attack Surface

The rapid growth of cloud computing, remote work, mobile applications, IoT devices, open-source code, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, and interconnected supply chains has boosted the number of personal and third-party devices accessing organisations’ networks and expanded the attack surface for cybercrime.

Cybercriminals can exploit poorly secured networks and devices belonging to employees and independent contractors to hack organisations’ networks and access sensitive data stored on unsecured cloud storage platforms.

IoT devices have become a weak spot for organisations’ cybersecurity due to inadequate security protocols and passwords. 

Robust access controls, multi-factor authentication, data encryption, continuous monitoring, and security awareness training are essential in safeguarding an organisation’s valuable digital assets amidst the expanding attack surface.

Emerging Threats and Solutions from Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In today’s digital landscape, cyber attackers are exploiting the capabilities of AI to create a wide array of threats that present significant challenges. They design AI-powered malware able to self-adapt and avoid traditional security measures, enabling them to go undetected, identify vulnerable targets, and customise their attack methods.

By exploiting AI vulnerabilities, these attacks can potentially manipulate algorithms, generating inaccurate results that can compromise an organisation’s systems and lead to data breaches. Furthermore, attackers can introduce biases and vulnerabilities during the training phases of AI models, thereby influencing the predictive behaviour of a trained model. This strategy is commonly referred to as ‘data poisoning’.

Additionally, the rise of deepfakes and identity manipulation creates new security threats. When combined with sophisticated social engineering attacks, they can deceive individuals and disseminate disinformation.

As the threat of AI-powered attacks continues to grow and put traditional defences to the test, organisations must remain vigilant and adapt their cybersecurity strategies accordingly.

Nonetheless, the integration of AI in cybersecurity heralds a transformative shift in defence mechanisms. Intrusion detection systems fortified with AI capabilities exhibit a new level of agility in discerning anomalous patterns, granting real-time response capabilities to neutralise threats that conventional systems struggle to emulate. AI-powered security systems are an indispensable force-multiplying component that can fortify cyber defences on a 24/7 basis by swiftly identifying anomalies and pre-empting potential breaches.

Cloud Security Challenges

Cloud technology has offered unparalleled flexibility and scalability to organisations around the world. However, alongside these benefits, a surge in cloud vulnerabilities demands that companies adopt robust security measures to safeguard their digital assets and data.

Whether due to cyber attacks or human error, data breaches and loss are major concerns in cloud environments despite the well-equipped infrastructure provided by the cloud.

To overcome traditional security tools’ cloud threats and limitations, organisations must invest in robust cloud-native security solutions, including a zero-trust architecture, strict access control, data encryption, and regular data backups. Prioritising endpoint and network security measures, reviewing security configurations, conducting security audits and having an incident response plan are essential to thwarting cloud cyber-attacks.

Insider Threats and Third-Party Contractor Breaches

The rise of remote work and reliance on contractors and temporary staff has created new opportunities for malicious insiders with access privileges to exploit companies’ sensitive information.

Whether intentional or accidental, employees’, contractors’ or even trusted partners’ actions can lead to devastating consequences for companies, such as data breaches and other malicious activities.

According to a recent Verizon cybersecurity report, human error remains the reason for data breaches, and over 34 percent of cyber attacks were directly or indirectly caused by employees.

Implementing strong access controls, multi-factor authentication, continuous monitoring, user behaviour analytics, and adequate employee training are vital in effectively tackling insider threats. Also, the growing reliance on third parties necessitates rigorous vetting, security assessments, and the integration of cybersecurity clauses in contracts.

Ransomware 2.0

Ransomware 2.0 signifies a major leap forward in the realm of cyber threats, as cybercriminals not only encrypt files but also threaten public exposure to stolen data, intensifying the impact on targeted organisations. This emerging trend, often referred to as “extortionware,” highlights the critical need for organisations to bolster their defence mechanisms and proactively shield their data and infrastructure from these calculated and highly damaging assaults.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, ransomware attacks are becoming more sophisticated. With the adoption of AI, machine learning and Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) to exploit unknown vulnerabilities, attackers are honing their evasion techniques with increased precision, making their assaults even more challenging to counter.

To combat this growing menace, organisations must proactively prioritise data security, fortified by robust endpoint protection, stringent access controls, and comprehensive staff training. Strengthening incident response protocols and implementing continuous network monitoring will be vital in navigating the constantly shifting ransomware battleground and preserving organisational integrity in the face of these evolving cyber threats.

Threat Intelligence

Threat Intelligence emerges as a critical component for organisations aiming to fortify their digital defences for 2024. This sophisticated practice involves systematically collecting, processing, and analysing data related to potential cybersecurity threats. By uncovering intricate attack behaviours and motives, threat intelligence empowers security teams to proactively safeguard against cyber assaults, enabling more efficient detection and response strategies. Its nuanced insights aid in comprehensively understanding organisation-specific threats, providing actionable recommendations that enhance overall security measures, thereby mitigating risks and thwarting potential data breaches.

According to leading industry experts, applying threat intelligence allows for identifying bespoke trends, patterns, and relationships within the intricate web of cyber threats. This tailored approach not only provides contextual relevance but also ensures a detailed understanding of potential risks. As organisations navigate the complex digital landscape, integrating threat intelligence into their cybersecurity frameworks has become an indispensable practice, effectively equipping them to combat the evolving nature of modern cyber threats. The intricate six-step threat intelligence lifecycle involves meticulous planning, data collection, rigorous processing, expert analysis, seamless dissemination, and crucial feedback loops. This holistic approach ensures that organisations remain agile and well-prepared to face the dynamic challenges of the ever-evolving cyber threats.

Zero-day Exploits and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

Zero-day exploits are cyber attacks that target unknown software vulnerabilities, launching attacks before anyone can place defences to prevent them. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is an unyielding and long-term cyberattack that continuously seeks out network vulnerabilities. APTs have the ability to adapt and change tactics to avoid detection, making them an exceptional threat.

Using Zero-day exploits and APTs together, attackers can use undisclosed vulnerabilities to stealthily infiltrate networks, evading detection for prolonged periods, leading to data exfiltration and long-term damage.

To safeguard against Zero-Day Exploits and APTs, organisations need a proactive strategy, including regular software updates, network segmentation, robust access control and intrusion detection systems. Additionally, an actionable incident response plan, adherence to a zero-trust model, continuous network monitoring, and collaborative threat intelligence sharing minimise risks.

Cybersecurity in the Board Room

With the persistent surge in complex cyber threats, cybersecurity has become a strategic priority that can no longer be limited to the IT department. The active participation of board members in shaping and executing comprehensive security protocols has transcended being merely a technical concern. It has evolved into a pivotal business risk that demands both strategic insight and financial commitment.

Recent research predicted that by 2026, 70% of boards would include at least one member with cybersecurity expertise. This enables organisations to move beyond reactive defence and cyber resilience after attacks; they can act on new business opportunities that come with being prepared.

Organisations need to adopt a holistic and proactive approach to tackle these constantly evolving cyber threats effectively. This involves maintaining a constant state of alertness, investing in best-of-breed technology, providing security awareness education, conducting regular security assessments, adhering to industry standards and regulations, developing efficient incident response plans, and seamlessly integrating cybersecurity into their organisation strategy. With these proactive measures, organisations can fortify their defences, effectively identify and mitigate risks, respond swiftly to incidents, and protect their valuable digital assets.

Nextro understands the real threats and risks posed by cybercriminals to organisations, be they critical infrastructure or a growing enterprise. By deploying best-of-breed technologies, Nextro designs optimal security solutions to fortify an organisation’s defences, secure users and devices, and safeguard its network and data. Nextro also helps organisations to integrate cybersecurity into their business strategies, develop efficient detect-protect-and-respond action plans, and also offer Security Awareness Programs to educate employees regarding how to protect themselves and their organisations.

If you would like to discuss more about how Nextro can help address any of your cybersecurity or physical security needs in 2024, please contact us today.

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Cloud Infrastructure

A scalable and resilient solution to keep your business connected, wherever you’re working.

Cloud infrastructure can offer a more cost-effective and accessible solution to keeping your business connected compared with on-premise infrastructure, minimising disruption and ensuring business continuity.

Nextro is a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partner with a focus on Azure. Our team of engineers will work with you to design, build and test cloud infrastructure that meets your requirements, then manage your migration to the cloud. Our managed cloud service ensures that your assets are secure and that your cloud infrastructure is optimised for availability, efficiency, scalability and performance.

More Network Solutions

SD-WAN

Managed Networks

Managed Wifi

Cloud voice & video communication

Operational Technology & Building Services Networks

Secure Remote Working

Network Partners

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Ensuring the safety and security of people and property as well as being operationally efficient are top priorities for Kiwi businesses. Installing and managing a comprehensive and unified security and analytics system with hundreds of cameras, access-controlled doors, intercoms, speakers, and alarm systems can, at first glance, appear to be a daunting task.

That’s why Nextro has combined its security system design and management capabilities with Genetec’s world-leading multi-technology platform that allows you to manage video surveillance, access control, license plate recognition with intrusion management, communications, and more.

In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 simple ways to take your monitoring and management tasks to the next level. Set out below are some Nextro ‘pro tips’ to optimise your operations, leverage key Genetec capabilities, and reduce the load on your security and operations teams.

1 – Customise your monitoring tile layouts

When you’re actively monitoring security, you can have several tiles with different video camera views up on the monitor. While that’s helpful, there are ways to maximize this space. 

Try creating custom tile layouts and populating them with specific cameras, maps, or other important relevant data to what you’re overseeing. For instance, besides an important camera viewpoint, you can have tiles with live ALPR reads and a map layout of your building. 

Each layout can be fully customized according to the monitoring task at hand. As a school security guard, you’ll be monitoring students as they come into the building by having several different views. These may be from your main entrance cameras, cars coming onto the property, and an overview of alarms on the map of your facility. 

You can also create different tile layouts within the monitoring task in Security Center, name them, and save them for future use. That way, you can simply click on the custom tile layout you need for a specific job, and monitor with context using all the necessary information up on your screen. 

2 – Configure your Visual Tracking overlays

Visual Tracking is a free feature in Security Center that can save you time during crucial moments to track suspects through a building. It also allows you to oversee video-based guard tours without leaving your office. 

How does it work? You simply click on the graphical overlays of a specific area on a video tile to quickly switch from camera to camera. You can also hover over the overlay to get a preview of the video before clicking through to the camera. 

Visual Tracking also works when looking at live or recorded video. That means you can follow intruders through your property during investigations, so you get a full forensic rundown of the event. 

Taking time to configure your Visual Tracking settings is a must. It’s an easy setup process that allows you to quickly link cameras to one another—simply select a camera and then draw an overlay on the camera tile where you’d like to jump to the next view. You can then link that overlay to another camera, and you’re done. Overlays can be different sizes, shapes, and colors depending on your preferences or needs. 

You can create as many overlays and camera links as you’d like, but generally, we recommend links that point to nearby cameras, so it’s easier for your team to move through a space or building as they would if they were walking the floor. 

The best part is that you don’t need to do everything at once. You can start with your more sensitive or highly trafficked areas and expand from there. 

3 – Get familiar with Quick Search

When you’re actively monitoring your environment, you might come across something that doesn’t look right. Using the Quick Search feature in Security Center, you can immediately investigate suspicious activity to find out what happened. 

For example, let’s say you’re jumping through cameras and notice a window is broken in a specific area. You can launch the Quick Search tool by clicking the briefcase icon on the side panel of your monitoring task. 

Quick Search helps you narrow down video recordings to find the exact moment that an incident occurred. It does this by showing you thumbnails from equally spaced-out times throughout the period in question. From there, you can expand the selection between the thumbnails to see a set of images within that period until you can pinpoint the incident footage. 

You can then follow up with operators that were on duty at that time, or bookmark the event and log an incident if needed. 

4 – Link all your entities 

Many operators find value in using the Plan Manager map feature within Security Center. It allows them to quickly find doors, intercoms, and cameras, especially in larger, more widespread environments or multi-site installations. 

And while most have added all their entities on their maps, not all have taken the time to link entities together. This means making sure your doors are associated with nearby cameras or intercoms and other devices. 

When your entities are linked, you’re able to do things such as unlocking a door during an intercom conversation. You can also immediately see the associated video whenever someone badges at the door. 

Linking your entities across your environment is a key step in getting the most from unified security. And while it seems like something small, this type of next-level configuration can pay dividends in speeding up your incident response times. It saves you from having to go back to your map and find a nearby device while you’re in the middle of handling an important task.   

See how Plan Manager enhances monitoring. 

5 – Try out the Incident Recording feature 

When you’re monitoring your environment and catch an incident underway, wouldn’t it be helpful to start recording evidence immediately? That’s now possible using the Incident Recording feature in Security Center. 

After enabling Incident Recording, you can drag the cameras you want to record into your monitoring tile. Video recordings from the cameras will then be automatically kept in sequence as one single video clip. 

The Incident Recording feature lets you create a storyboard of the incident underway. You can then save and export that compiled video sequence with operator notes, alarms, or other information. This gives you a complete incident report to save for future reference or to share with third parties. Recipients can easily view the file through a video player. 

Using the Incident report task in tandem with Visual Tracking is a powerhouse combination that streamlines your whole response and investigatory process. Not only will you be able to track intruders and collaborate with on-the-ground personnel to intercept them, but you can also package all your evidence and notes in one tidy, easy-to-share file. 

Investigating an incident after the fact? Using Incident Recording can help you easily gather all your evidence in one place and streamline the entire investigative process. 

Watch how Incident Recording works in real-time 

6 – Start using built-in Privacy Protector

Today’s privacy laws require organizations to balance people’s right to privacy and security. Failure to comply with these evolving mandates can lead to significant penalties. 

But ensuring privacy can be challenging when you have public-facing cameras near a school, hospital, or other high privacy-minded environments. 

Investing in security solutions that are built with Privacy by Design offers several features that help you strengthen privacy compliance. Within Security Center, one of those built-in features is KiwiVision Privacy Protector. 

This privacy feature allows your team to monitor live or recorded video while blurring specific areas or anything that isn’t the static background. Your operators will be able to clearly see the background context of a video tile and understand what’s happening, and they won’t be able to identify the individuals moving around. Should an incident occur, supervisors can access the unblurred footage to identify the culprits or submit the video as evidence. 

Using Privacy Protector is a great way to freely monitor your spaces while upholding people’s rights to privacy and regulatory compliance. 

7 – Activate the Camera Integrity Monitor

When you’re monitoring your environment, you need to make sure your cameras and other devices are working properly. If a device falls offline or gets covered without someone noticing, this leaves gaps in your security. 

But when you have hundreds of cameras, you don’t have time to randomly check camera feeds around the clock. This is where the KiwiVision Camera Integrity Monitor comes into play. 

When you activate this feature in Security Center, the system will automatically track and alert you to camera events such as tampering, decreased video quality, or abrupt directional change. This allows you to focus on monitoring the security of your environment while staying on top of any recurring or odd device failures that need addressing. 

Using dynamic widgets, you’ll see a list of all incoming events alongside visual graphs that display the number and frequency of different events. You can then quickly investigate alarms or retrieve reports of these events to know when there are bigger issues at play, or if devices need replacing. 

8 – Set up your analytics with intention

Using motion detection analytics can help operators identify and qualify threats faster when monitoring their environment. But if they’re not configured properly, then they may end up becoming more of a nuisance than a useful tool. 

To get full value from this free feature in Security Center, it’s important to make sure you’re being thorough and thoughtful in your configuration. That means ensuring there’s purpose and intention in how the analytics are configured in the camera’s field of view. 

For instance, if there’s a tree within the frame, you’re likely going to get many unnecessary notifications on a windy day. Simply adjusting the sensitivity of the motion detection on specific cameras can help here too. 

Setting up other analytics such as crowd estimation and people counting can also be very useful in certain circumstances. For instance, you can receive notifications when people begin congregating in specific areas or be alerted to occupancy thresholds to adhere to fire and safety regulations. 

9 – Unify your intrusion monitoring

Did you know that intrusion monitoring is now part of the base package in Security Center 5.11? That means you can do much more than manage your intrusion points, areas, and panels within Security Center. You can also assign various cardholders or groups different pins for arming and disarming specific zones and quickly respond to any intrusion alarms directly from a map of your facilities. 

When you unify intrusion monitoring within Security Center, there’s so much richness in the functionality available to you. For instance, you can receive various types of intrusion alarms such as ‘wrong pin’, or ‘manual bypass’. When you respond to the intrusion event, you’ll be able to see the associated video and cardholder information. You can also associate different types of actions with specific events, such as triggering a threat level. This gives you a full picture of what’s happening and helps guide your operators on how to best respond to the situation. 

Beyond that, you can configure automatic arming and disarming based on schedules. This ensures that if the last person to leave forgets to arm the system, your facility won’t be exposed. You can also pull reports on intrusion events to spot any recurring issues, or to help inform your investigations. 

10 – Take a look at graphical reports

Traditional table reports are great for filtering down a data set to find entries of interest. This might include identifying who was in an area at a given time or who was the last person to leave the building. Graphical reports help you aggregate all your data to better understand what’s happening in your environment. They help you gain valuable insights such as seeing how many people accessed different buildings or how many alarms were acknowledged over the last week and by whom.    

In Security Center, this is all available through visual reports and dashboards. So whether you’re looking at camera failures, door events, or intrusion alarms, you can retrieve information and have that displayed in a graph that includes either columns or stacked rows, or even a doughnut or pie chart. You can further filter these reports based on specific days, times, zones, facilities, types of events or alarms, and more. 

You can also create different dashboards with various types of visual reports and keep that up on your screen as you’re monitoring your cameras and handling other tasks. You can drop those graphical reports into a dashboard and set a refresh rate so you can monitor your data in near-real-time. This gives you extra information at the ready, so you stay more in control of your environment. 

Nextro is a New Zealand-based security integrator and Genetec Unified Elite Partner. For more information on how Nextro can help you design a new system or optimise your existing Genetec deployment, please get in touch here.  

The post Nextro’s top 10 tips to get the most out of Genetec Security Center appeared first on Nextro.

You can’t have a high-quality aged care experience without high-quality digital infrastructure. With 16% of the Australian population now aged 65 and older – a figure set to steadily rise for the extended future – the need for post-retirement care is only going to grow. And at the same time, aged care residents and their families want and need much more from their technology and digital services than they used to – from video calls to e-reading and even gaming. That trend will only continue as even more digital-literate generations grow older and seek out aged care residency.

Providers who invest in strong digital foundations can meet those changing expectations – not just in technology but also in an array of areas, from safety to holistic wellbeing. They’ll also find it easier to retain staff, keep costs under control, manage their building efficiency and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) obligations, and even offer value-added services that set them apart in a crowded market.

Smart operators are making those decisions on digital infrastructure right now – not at some point in the future. They’re looking beyond consumer-grade equipment to enterprise-class solutions, the sort that create fulfilling digital experiences for residents while strengthening the operational efficiency of staff and buildings. And as part of the process, they’re asking key questions about their current and future network solutions – 7½ of which we’ve captured in this discussion.

1 – Have we tested whether our network solution’s Wi-Fi capacity and coverage truly meet client density and application requirements?

Why it matters

Forward-thinking aged care operators base their digital decisions on reality, not wishful thinking. They’re aware that digital infrastructure has historically focused on siloed administrative or operational tasks, at the expense of solving broader business problems. They know that their network infrastructure needs to handle current demand well before even considering what’s possible in the future.

Getting the basics right often means auditing existing network solutions to identify gaps and areas of subpar performance. For mission-critical applications that means reliable access anytime, anywhere – including stairwells, lifts, and bathrooms. For residents, it means a quality of network service that’s the same whether in bedrooms, busy common areas or outdoor gardens.

2 – Can our network meet current and future demand from residents for high-bandwidth communication and entertainment?

Why it matters

Residents expect to live increasingly full lives in their aged care facilities – and rightly so. They want to enjoy entertainment, stay active, and communicate with their families and friends. If residents can’t make video calls to their children, shop and bank online, or stream movies and games with ease – they aren’t going to stay for long.

All of this requires substantial amounts of wireless bandwidth and coverage throughout facilities – not unlike modern hotels and resorts. That may involve deploying wireless access points with higher range, reliability, and bandwidth; or networks that optimise themselves using AI or automation.

3 – Do our network solutions offer secure and personalised Wi-Fi access to our residents without adding cost or complexity?

Why it matters

Privacy and security are increasingly front-of-mind for residents who put their health and personal data in aged care operators’ hands. At the same time, regulators and shareholders are paying more and more attention to the risks of data breaches – particularly in sensitive sectors like aged care. Physical security of residents is also an issue which technologies like digital locks and Internet of Things solutions can help reinforce. Yet those security solutions are also reliant on robust network security to avoid being compromised by bad actors.

Aged care operators should consider robust network security solutions that can easily scale up across high volumes of devices, including Internet of Things sensors. This will allow them to improve both physical and cyber security even as threats change and multiply. They will also benefit from cloud solutions that simplify app and data management while automatically updating to beat new threats.

4 – Will our network allow us to implement always-on monitoring for higher quality resident care?

Why it matters

Aged care operators can’t improve resident care without technology. The staffing shortages and resource pressures simply won’t allow it. Digital monitoring solutions, however, can provide 24/7 feedback on residents’ health – think fall detection bracelets, connected heart monitors, and bed sensor pads to detect incontinent episodes. Similarly, many operators are looking to relieve on-site staff pressures with e-health and telehealth consults that employ data from these Internet of Things monitoring solutions. However, these services also put significant demand on bandwidth and network speed.

Aged care network solutions must support the adoption of these solutions at scale, allowing staff to respond more quickly and sensitively to health issues when they arise. They should also make it simple for non-technical staff to manage sensors and leverage e-health services, without getting slowed down by IT admin tasks.

5 – Can our network solution reduce our carbon footprint and increase our building’s efficiency?

Why it matters

Like other industries, aged care faces rising scrutiny over its environmental impact. Yet minimising carbon emissions isn’t just part of ESG or regulatory obligations – it’s also good for business. Smart buildings that use data to run more efficiently have already become the norm in many residential and commercial developments. Aged care operators should take the same view of their facilities to keep costs down and compliance up.

Answering this question involves not just different types of Internet of Things devices (like environmental controls and smart lighting), but also networks and platforms that can manage and make sense of the complex data they generate. The right network solutions will craft real-time insight that accounts for indicators of resident wellness, as well as the OpEx efficiency of buildings. These solutions should help operators create an environment that’s both cost-effective and highly liveable for residents and staff.

6 – Does our network solution come with unified management, complete visibility and analytics for all parts of the network?

Why it matters

Digital services for residents, always-on monitoring systems, building sensors and analytics – all rely on the same network infrastructure to function. That equals much more data, much faster, all the time. Even relatively small performance issues, if left unaddressed, can quickly compromise the entire network. And aged care operators can’t afford the downtime or outages that follow – their residents’ lives may depend on it.

Advanced and automated solutions can empower those with less technical expertise to keep things running smoothly and even catch potential issues before they cause disruption.

7 – Has our network architecture been designed to support future business outcomes?

Why it matters

Addressing current network and digital needs is one thing; investing in future-ready infrastructure is another. Yet for aged care operators, achieving future business outcomes will increasingly depend on the strength of their network architecture.

• Emerging digital services for residents, like virtual reality or metaverse applications, will consume exponentially more bandwidth than facilities deal with now.
• Cyber risks continue to grow as the pay-off for successful breaches and hacks increases – along with the regulatory and reputational costs of non-compliance.
• OpEx savings now mean free capital to reinvest in even more efficient operations – creating a virtuous cycle for operators who can use data to streamline their operations at speed.

Aged care operators can answer this question with cloud and network solutions that scale without compromising on security or creating excessive complexity.

7 1/2 – Does the solution allow us to differentiate our service offering?

Why it’s half a question

Differentiation is a part of success in any industry, not just aged care. Yet the question of “can we differentiate ourselves” only provokes more questions. Where can aged care facilities create extra value? Should they seek to differentiate themselves by being better in one area than others, or by offering something entirely new? Providers that double down on 24/7 resident care and responsiveness are an example of the first; those investing in unexpected services like onsite electric vehicle pods are examples of the second. This is half a question because it can only be answered by asking many more.

One thing is for certain: that the eventual answers will involve some form of digital innovation. Solid and future-ready network solutions allow aged care operators to turn those ideas into reality, at speed. 

Looking for answers?
We’ll help you find them.

Leading aged care operators already treat digital connectivity as more than a “nice to have” or even a basic utility. For them, it’s a platform for innovation – to enrich residents’ lives, manage operations more efficiently and securely, and create new sources of value as times and needs evolve. They’re investing in network infrastructure that sets strong foundations to serve our seniors, both now and in future generations.

RUCKUS have built up expertise and established a track record in connecting multi-tenancy facilities with complex, fast-evolving use cases. That’s why aged care operators are increasingly turning to us to guide their digital decision-making.

Talk to our team of expert, we’d love to help answer 7½ questions and more.

The post Questions for Aged Care’s Digital Decision appeared first on Nextro.

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