Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) Blog

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..