Security Technology & Design

It Sounds Good, but Is It Sustainable?

I didn't appreciate how much energy data centers consumed. It takes enormous amounts of energy to run and maintain servers, computer systems and other high-performance networking equipment. According to Anixter, data centers in the United States account for 1.5 percent of all power used - roughly equal to all the television use in the nation and more power consumption than the entire state of Mississippi - and demand is expected to double by 2011.

Top Stories On This Month

"Joining NICE, a global security solutions provider powerhouse, is a great opportunity for Orsus," said Orsus CEO Gil Weiser. "Together, we'll expand our global outreach to support the security needs of customers across a wide range of vertical markets."

Infrared & Thermal Imaging Technology

Samsung Techwin America's SIR-4160 and SIR-4260V Infrared (IR) cameras feature the supplier's 5th-generation DSP (W5) image processing technology. The SIR-4160 (pictured) is a compact indoor/ outdoor and day/night IR camera with an integrated mount. It leverages 32 high performance LEDs for illumination of subjects up to 131 feet away in total darkness. The SIR-4260V is a vandal-resistant, IP66-rated IR dome camera in a rugged high impact polycarbonate dome cover.

High-Definition Video

Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., has released a line Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA)-compliant network cameras, the DS-2CD862MF-E 1 .3-Megapixel CCD-based camera and the DS-2CD852MF-E 2-Megapixel camera. The 1. 3-Megapixel network camera offers high-definition video quality with enhanced sensitivity in low-light scenarios using a 1/3-inch Sony progressive scan CCD.

Video Technology Decisions

I was very happy to find that the issues security managers typically face regarding video technology are addressed in the recently released third edition of the electronic book, Security Manager's Guide to Video Surveillance, by John Honovich. Published on his Web site, IPVideoMarket.info, the 102-page document is free to download and redistribute. (For the remainder of this column I'll refer to the book simply as the Guide.

Threat Assessment: Measuring Likelihood

George Campbell is emeritus faculty of the Security Executive Council (SEC) and former CSO of Fidelity Investments. His book, "Measures and Metrics in Corporate Security, " may be purchased through the SEC Web site. The SEC is a risk mitigation research and services organization for senior security and risk executives from corporations and government agencies responsible for corporate and/or IT security programs.

Integrating the Pieces: The Operating System

Can you clearly describe how your organization or function operates? Beyond simple one-word adjectives such as "disorganized" or "efficient," it is difficult to articulate how a company runs its businesses. Yet the trait of any world-class organization is an ingrained system to coordinate actions, execute daily work routines, learn and make improvements - in short, its operating system. In these types of organizations, the operating system is the engine that drives the company.

Solutions Snapshot

Organizations must work to get these same assurances from their cloud computing providers. Security practitioners need to make senior management aware of the risks of moving to cloud computing, just as they did for outsourcing initiatives. Get ahead of the business on this. Having policies in place encourages your organization to include them as requirements when seeking a provider of cloud computing services.

Critical Infrastructure Requires Special Security Efforts

Pan-tilt-zoom cameras can also be programmed to complete guard tours to monitor perimeters. Recently, manufacturers began to build cameras with multiple digital signal processors intended for high-end, outdoor use. One processor may be dedicated to stabilizing the image in a windy environment, while other processors may look for different types of motion.

Working Toward 100-Percent Screening

Paul Leodler, Director of Security, Western U.S. & Mexico for Cardinal Health, sees the CCSP as the most sensible way for his company to work toward the 100-percent screening mandate. "We're shipping pharmaceutical product, and we're responsible for the supply chain until it arrives at the next licensed facility, so until the pharmacy or hospital receives it and signs for it, it belongs to us no matter whose possession it is in," Leodler says. "We're responsible for these...

Market Focus: Critical Infrastructure Security

Garland Power & Light, the third largest municipal utility in Texas, has deployed a Video Data Management and Retention platform from lntransa as part of an upgrade to the company's surveillance systems for physical infrastructure protection. "The IP surveillance system is a major component in our ability to monitor and protect our critical infrastructure," says David Grubbs, GP&L's Regulatory and Compliance Director. "Because of the design of the lntransa system, we have been...

The Long Road to Ip Video Standards

It's important to realize that ONVIF v1.0 is not the end of the road. For example, v1.0 means an IP camera or encoder can be recorded on, for example, a hybrid DVR. A VMS that allows a user to view the DVR currently uses a proprietary method such as an SDK to reach the DVR; however, v2.0 of the ONVIF specification includes among other things the ability to control playback. This means that even a regular DVR could now be ONVI F-compliant, enabling any ONVIF-compliant VMS to use and control it.

Psia's Ip Specification Efforts

The PSIA plugfest at ASIS this year was a key landmark in the progression of standards. Prior to this event, the PSIA specifications had been approved and available, but not tested in a public forum. The interoperability demonstration marked the groundswell of implementations that are becoming available from key security manufacturers, and many more implementations are on their way in 2010. Standards don't become standards until they are implemented and they intemperate.

Monitoring Center Ergonomics

Viewing Distance: The last common item usually found on these ergonomie recommendation lists for monitor placement is the distance from the user. The recommendations cover a fairly wide range of distance - from "about an arm's length away" (Microsoft) to "at a comfortable viewing distance, approximately 18-30 inches from the viewer" (CDC).

If It Walks Like a Duck and Quacks Like a Duck. . .

Once we reject this slaughter as a tragedy, we can then look to understand the threat - in this case, one Major Nidal [Malik Hasan]. Those of us steeped in risk management fundamentals know that a threat is either human or environmental. The threat exploits a vulnerability and, in turn, impacts an asset or mission. Sadly, the accurate depiction of a threat eludes many of our elected officials.