Get to know Kyle J. Hildebrand, PMP, Director, Corporate Business Development for G4S Technology LLC (formerly Adesta, LLC). What does he say about analog video and its relationship to black  and white TVs?

What specific trends are you seeing with your security executive customers?

Security executives are placing more importance on the intangible value-adds that an integrator brings versus just looking for the low-bid provider. They understand the security risk, liability, cost and operational inconveniences incurred when a system doesn’t meet their needs. They are increasingly focused on evaluating their technology and integrator options based on how their business units can be supported after the installation, as well as the ability to expand the system when operational changes and growth dictate. An inoperable access control system will affect the movement and safety of employees and affect their work output, which is a cost that wasn’t always considered in the past. They are also trending towards using a single provider for multiple security services in order to reduce internal management and administrative burdens.

What major risks/issues are your security executives facing?

There are several major issues, but the most repeated are: Loss of productivity (resulting in lost revenue) because of offline security systems, internal threats inside the workforce, consistency of service levels from providers across geographic regions, maintaining legacy systems with upgrades and patches, gaining buy-in from facility personnel at outlying facilities, balancing the security budget (risk vs. need) and cyber threats to operational systems relying on the network.

How are your security executive customers addressing cyber security in their enterprises and how are you assisting with that?

Most security executives clearly understand cyber security is in a class by itself, and the risks associated with ignoring it are immeasurable. They are surrounding themselves with IT and technical security professionals instead of traditional security staffing and former law enforcement personnel. They are deploying a solution that addresses both the physical access to data storage, as well as the cyber threat itself to prevent the compromise of data though electronic means. Additionally, we are seeing a movement towards companies installing a separate and dedicated security network to handle the bandwidth concerns of video as well as make sure their security systems are not part of the main network should it be compromised.

Do you see your security executives customers looking to upgrade their analog video systems, or are now they asking for IP video systems?

Analog has joined the ranks of black and white televisions. Some customers are looking to get the most out of their existing investments, so it’s common to see hybrid systems that utilize existing analog cameras (via encoders) along with new IP cameras that utilize a new VMS platform and digital storage. This is the interim solution, and the majority of our customers are budgeting for and installing entirely new IP systems. Top organizations realize that security technology needs to be updated and refreshed periodically.

What types of specific access control trends are you seeing with your security executive customers?

Enterprise systems that are centrally managed, maintained, and operated are really in the mainstream. Access Control technology is being thought of as an enterprise wide system, instead of a standalone facility by facility system. There are several trends that follow this paradigm shift. First, we are seeing more customers requiring integrations to their corporate Active Directory, HR database and time-keeping systems. Second is that integrations to third-party Video Management Systems (VMS) are the norm. Next is that cloud-based/hosted and ACaaS (Access Control as a Service) is commonplace and becoming increasingly important to smaller companies that want reduced infrastructure expenses. There are a couple things that are certainly emerging as future trends – Near Field Communications (NFC) to provide encrypted access credentials through smartphones, exclusive non-proprietary hardware usage (door controller, readers, panels), and access control systems integrated to Building Management Systems (BMS).

What is the most unique installation that you have recently done?

We are completing an enterprise architected access control, video and PSIM installation for the largest ferry system in the U.S. The installation covers 20 terminals and all the ferries that connect them. The project itself is unique because it has very tight installation schedules on the ferries and terminals to work around the scheduled arrivals and departures, plus it has installations on the actual watercraft. Additionally, there is a unique communications infrastructure that is essential to operation of the entire system. The customer is very up to date on the technologies and places a genuine emphasis on the safety of the passengers, crews and vehicles under their responsibility. 

About the Author: Kyle Hildebrand, PMP, is Director of Corporate Business Development for G4S Technology LLC. He works with executives and procurement officers at Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies. He has more than 16 years combined experience in the security and defense industries.