Notes on ISC West from Dave Bunzel, Executive Director, the PSIA
Though the three
days of ISC passed in a blur, one thing was crystal clear: Standards are an
increasingly important focus for the industry. Integrators, specifiers, and
manufacturers with whom I met are increasingly aware that standards are
necessary to help the physical security world to present compelling value
propositions and to interoperate effectively with modern, business-changing
technologies, from a wide range of mobile platforms to intelligent devices that
generate a rich pool of data to increasingly powerful algorithms for analyzing the
resulting information.
Look at several
of the major products recognized by the Security Industry Association (SIA) in
its New Products Showcase. Honeywell, a
PSIA member, won in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions category
for its LYNX Touch L5100, a system released last year that supports the
intelligent home concept and is controllable by non-security industry devices,
including iPads and smartphones.
Similarly, Stanley
Security Solutions took the honors in the Entry/Exit Screening Systems and
Asset Tracking category with its AeroScout MobileView Locator for iPad.
Innovative
Security Designs (ISD) took “Best New Product” honors in the NPS with what it
says is the first Microsoft Windows compatible IP surveillance camera. The
camera is built on Microsoft’s Embedded Windows– thus making it compatible with
other key Microsoft corporate products, including SharePoint and Active
Directory. (For more, see this story at SecurityInfoWatch: http://bit.ly/10bXeEG).
PSIA member
Inovonics received an Honorable Mention in the Intrusion Detection and
Prevention category with its recent introduction of the Echostream EN6080 Area
Control Gateway. The first
PSIA-compliant device to provide IP-based interoperability of leading access
control, video and area control systems, the gateway enables integration,
configuration and management of thousands of wireless devices; establishes
interoperability among multiple physical security systems and creates a common
communications platform on which to build custom commercial security solutions.
(Find the release here: http://www.inovonics.com/inovonics-launches-en6080-area-conrol-gateway/)
It does take
time for standards to take root—and once they do, they spread rapidly. The PSIA’s
specifications have been cultivated by a broad range of companies focused on
solving industry needs, not just one or two large vendors protecting their turf.
Now we’re poised to help the physical
security industry deliver better solutions more cost effectively and enable its
participation in a broader IT ecosystem and the “Internet of Things.” Given the
sharpened focus on standards I saw at ISC, the PSIA compliance is poised for a
year of exciting announcements, accomplishments, and will gain strong traction
in the market..
