1. V ID E O A N A LY T IC S | B U Y E R ’S G U ID E | V ID E O M A N A G E M E N T
CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
NOVEMBER GUIDE TO SURVEILLANCE
A special supplement with
MIDDLE EAST
IN CO-OPERATION WITH
EYES ON
THE WORLD
A GUIDE TO DIGITAL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
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4. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
FEATURE
5 MUSTS FOR
recognise normal behavior, and detect and
alert on all abnormal patterns of activity
without any human input.
Organisations may find the move from
ADVANCINGVIDEO
algorithmic and rules-based systems to a
learning technology a helpful next step to
improve a video surveillance system. The
key to successful surveillance is learning
SURVEILLANCE IN
normal behaviors, so that suspicious
behavior can be detected to help predict,
and prevent, future threats. By filtering
out everyday activity, learning technology
can help focus security personnel on
SECURITY
unusual activities, which helps to raise
organisational awareness and decrease
response time to potential threats.
Scalability is key to success
A video analytics technology capable
of learning relies on computing power,
which requires organisations to ensure
Video surveillance was once the exclusive province of that all elements of the system have the
potential to scale to meet the needs of
physical security; operators looked at multiple video even larger video surveillance operations.
screens, each displaying the field of view of a single video Scalability is crucial; the sheer amount of
video surveillance now being deployed
camera, to monitor for security incidents. But increasingly, is staggering. In London, there was an
the charge of fully securing an organisation’s assets estimated 4.2 million closed-circuit TV
cameras in June 2007.
requires a larger number of cameras with multiple viewers Manual operations are expensive
of the video information. and limit the effective scalability of the
system; if the video surveillance system
cannot scale, the set up could require the
hand calibration of each camera when
A
it is set up and hand tuning to define
s these systems add more video cycles, were unable to be improved or security zones. Scalable systems will allow
to be watched, there becomes a expanded once installed, and did not the video surveillance system to add
need to use IT style analysis tools necessarily add much value, since they were cameras and video fields over time so
to help sort through the myriad only being programmed to alert on one type that as an organisation grows, its video
of incoming video to find potential threats. of behavior. For example, one organisation surveillance system will grow with it. Over
With that, CSOs find themselves required to deployed a system to detect car break-ins time, organisations expanding their video
integrate a key physical security solution, during the night in a restricted parking lot. The surveillance deployments over large areas
video surveillance, into overall IT security. system reported one incident (police officer will look to solutions that can self-calibrate
While this means understanding what video who stopped to check the lot) in 18 months. rather than require manual programming.
surveillance can and can’t do, it also reveals It is difficult to justify the cost of an expensive Organisations deploying video surveillance
the need for education on evaluation system that only provides one or two valuable will also need an enterprise-class
criteria for video surveillance solutions and pieces of information in 18 months. architecture that can scale in order to
an understanding of what else can be done It has proven challenging in video manage all the hardware and servers
to improve existing systems. surveillance systems to program a rule necessary to analyse the video.
for every single unusual activity, but as a Vendors can multiplex all the digitised
Move from algorithms to learning natural next step, organisations will require a video streams coming from the cameras
The advent of video analytics software now system that works similar to current products into a video concentrator device or onto
makes it possible for computers to «read» the currently in use in IT departments to detect network video storage. Most of these
output of video cameras and automatically abnormality in network data streams. Various solutions provide some recording capability
send out alerts when abnormal behavior is tools have emerged that not only «see video and centralisation of control to limit the
detected. Initial systems tended to be small better,» but also analyse the digitised output total electronic real estate used by the video
-- 10 to 12 cameras, six-month implementation of video cameras in real time to learn and surveillance deployment.
4
5. Digitised video and security
Today, a full video infrastructure includes
cameras, viewing stations, video storage
and recall, video analytics, and analytic
processing. It may include remote
monitoring or publishing video to remote
locations, and it may require encryption
of the video stream. Video isn’t just video
any more. Video is data; data that enters
the realm of IT. Like any other type of
data, digitised video must be analysed,
shared, transferred, archived, searched,
and more. This makes it even more crucial
for video surveillance systems to comply
with open standards, since they are
essential to getting the most value from
the data.
With video surveillance as a data
technology, security personnel will have
to handle video data just like any other
data. Video data will have to be integrated
into the data security infrastructure,
electronically signed to prove it has
not been tampered with, tied into the
IT infrastructure’s existing permission
and security systems so security can
control who views it, and encoded for
transmission. Incident manage -- when
the video surveillance system sends an
alert, security personnel will need to enter
comments about what actions they took
to mitigate a risk or handle a security
event and provide audit trails. And of
Compatibility for multiple video technologies and perhaps to run analysis technologies course, the video data must comply with
But once the video streams are from a variety of vendors in order to meet industry standards if it is to be integrated
concentrated or stored, what happens their growing requirements. The video into the security infrastructure.
next? A level of compatibility is required processing equipment must be compatible
if the video analytics solutions need to with the video viewing and video storage Joint standards efforts
transmit video streams to an analytic equipment. Without proper planning, this Today, standards efforts for video data are
engine so that different types of can result in duplicate purpose equipment, still in their infancy. Vendors have formed
applications can consume and process the in which it is necessary to buy open- standards boards without actually talking
video. The more scalable video surveillance standards video processing equipment that with one another. Vendors and standards
systems embrace open non-proprietary runs in parallel with proprietary equipment. bodies are just beginning to look at
video standards, using network protocols As systems become more complex, enacting guidelines for how to plug
such as Real-Time Streaming Protocol it becomes more important to be able different parts of different technologies
(RTSP), so that they can publish the video to buy compatible products from best- together: How data will be transmitted,
to as many people as possible. of-breed vendors. Even though some how video streams will be encoded, and
Getting the video stream into an video surveillance vendors attempt to so on. But these efforts are splintered.
open standard for distribution can be a be one-stop shops, the customer’s need True interoperability, however, is
problem. Every camera manufacturer has a for scalability and compatibility will drive usually not achieved via vendor-driven
proprietary format or protocol for moving the move away from proprietary camera organisations. Interoperable, large-scale
data. This did not matter with traditional systems to standards-based solutions. video surveillance solutions will only be
closed-video surveillance systems, because The innovation occurring in video analysis achieved with the participation of end-user
only one vendor was needed for the entire happens quickly, and the need to deploy organisations. By insisting on standards
solution. With analytics-based solutions these innovations is critical. With so much and compliance the industry can work
emerging today, this requires a move to innovation and demand for deployment, towards a video surveillance solution that
more open systems that will enable IT to it is critical that open standards be used to will be valuable and accessible to the CSO
select best of breed analysis technologies, allow for maximum compatibility. and the larger security landscape.
5
6. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
ANALYTICS
ENABLING ENTERPRISE
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
WITH VIDEO ANALYTICS
E
nterprise video surveillance surveillance system are cameras, recorders,
systems can scale to hundreds or servers and software. Cameras are
thousands of cameras spread across distributed across monitored locations,
geographically dispersed facilities, while recorders and servers are typically
but this presents bandwidth, processing and centralised for ease of management. A
storage challenges. The cost to deploy and video management system (VMS) provides
maintain such systems over their lifetime unified access to live and recorded video and
can be staggering, but new video analytics aggregates hardware from multiple vendors.
technology offers a compelling alternative. New cameras employ MPEG-4 and
Video analytics is the automated analysis H.264 compression to provide DVD or HD-
of video content for user-defined events of resolution video at bit rates between 1M
interest. The technology is primarily used for and 12Mbps. It is desirable to consolidate
physical security and business intelligence recorders and servers centrally for ease of
applications. Capabilities range from simple configuration and maintenance. This video
motion detection to sophisticated algorithms can then be distributed to one or more
for detection of people, vehicles, objects security/network operations centers and
and their behaviors or interactions. The best streamed on demand to responders and
techniques ignore normal scene changes in a emergency personnel in the field.
camera view as well as motion due to snow, A VMS is employed to provide recording,
rain and tree foliage. streaming, switching and multiplexing
Examples of physical security functionality. It can normalise streaming
applications include perimeter breach, video from multiple sources into a common
loitering or removal of an object, while format as well as provide recording and
business intelligence applications include playback services. It also functions as a
measurement of customer traffic and video server by relaying video to multiple
analysis of customer behavior. However, endpoints, each with different resolution and
video analytics does much more than bit rate requirements.
optimise safety and security and enable VMS functionality increasingly runs as
better business decisions — it also reduces software on enterprise servers instead of on
the total cost of IP video surveillance custom embedded hardware. A single server
system ownership. can handle the recording and streaming
tasks for 64 or more cameras, with video
IP Video surveillance systems stored on internal drives or on a storage-
The major elements of an IP video area network. Management software
6
7. typically combines a database server and which requires video to be streamed to a to store and when to stream video. An
a Web server, which enables configuration remote site with dedicated WAN links at analytics-enabled VMS addresses the three
and monitoring over the network and hundreds of megabits. big scalability challenges of enterprise
notification to mobile endpoints. Given these challenges, enterprises video deployments — human resources,
are forced to compromise a great deal. storage and bandwidth — more effectively
Infrastucture planning One option is to limit video surveillance to and cost-efficiently than a system without
A medium to large deployment can involve forensic evidence — i.e., no active streaming this capability.
hundreds if not thousands of cameras or monitoring, with recorded video reviewed Analytics serve as a force multiplier,
distributed over tens or hundreds of only after an incident occurs. Other options freeing personnel from continuous
locations. Most security policies require include dropping the resolution and frame monitoring and eliminating the need to
video to be stored for a week to a month, rate for video streamed over a WAN, which hire additional staff even as the number
and some require it to be archived for makes it difficult to detect security violations. of cameras grows. The software reduces
a year or longer. The operational and In short, the massive investment in storage requirements by a factor of 100
maintenance costs over the lifetime of such security infrastructure pays poor dividends by recording video only when events of
a system can easily exceed the upfront because incidents cannot be detected interest occur. It also reduces bandwidth
capital expenditure. and intercepted as they are happening. requirements by a similar factor by
For illustrative purposes, let’s examine Fortunately, video analytics present a streaming video only to endpoints that have
a 1,000-camera system spread over 10 compelling solution to this problem. subscribed to those events.
sites streaming at 4Mbps per camera. If Most surveillance video is either
recording is done locally at each facility, it Video analytics to the rescue monitoring normal, routine activities such as
consumes 400Mbps on the LAN and 4.3TB Video analytics addresses infrastructure people entering and leaving a parking lot, or
of storage per day per site. With a one- challenges by enabling content-aware no activity, such as around a remote fence
month retention policy, over a petabyte of storage and routing. The software is the line. Simple motion detection is sometimes
storage is needed for all sites. It is also likely equivalent of having a tireless, unblinking used to reduce the amount of video recorded
that monitoring operations are centralised person watch each camera, detect relevant or streamed, but it is prone to false alarms
in a security/network operations center, events, and make decisions on what events and creates unwanted events. Advanced
video analytics can be configured to look for
a person loitering in a parking lot or crossing
over a fence, and only record and stream
video when that happens. The technology
can also alert personnel to loss of video or
tampering. Furthermore, it can create an
index of events and store them in a database
for future mining.
Video analytics software is best
integrated with the VMS at each site.
It intercepts the video feed from all
cameras and then analyses live video in
real time with minimal latency. Events
are stored in a database and posted
to one or more alert consoles that
have subscribed to those events. Video
corresponding to those events is also
streamed to these consoles. In effect,
video analytics serves as a traffic cop,
interacting closely with the VMS. In most
cases, an analytics-enabled VMS can be
deployed on existing infrastructure with
minimal changes.
Video analytics provides a win-win
situation, by enabling security personnel
to prevent crime instead of investigating
it after the incident, and by allowing IT
staff to provide a compelling solution that
is cost-effective to deploy and maintain. It
greatly reduces the operational expense
of a distributed video surveillance
solution while allowing centralised
administration and monitoring. This
mature technology is transforming the
way enterprises plan and deploy IP video
surveillance systems.
7
8. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
FEATURE
HOW TO MANAGE
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
Video management software (VMS) allows you to record and view live video from
multiple surveillance cameras--either IP-based or analogueue cameras with an
encoder--monitor alarms, control cameras and retrieve recordings from an archive.
B
ecause they are IP-based, VMS
systems are more expandable and
flexible than DVR-based systems, and
employees can control the software
from anywhere on the network. Surveillance
and security teams can use the software for
live monitoring, as well as investigative and
forensic purposes, using archived footage.
Users have three form factors from which to
choose for managing IP video: software-only,
hardware/software appliances (sometimes
referred to as network video recorders, or NVRs)
or a hybrid DVR, which is a DVR with additional
software to manage IP equipment.
Because of the economic downturn,
the VMS market will see slower growth in
2009 than in previous years, with a forecast
of 29 percent versus more than 40 percent,
according to IMS Research.
Evaluation criteria for video management
VMS systems range from the basic to
the sophisticated, with major differences
including reliability features and number of
cameras and locations supported. Here is a
sampling of features to consider:
Specific options for different verticals,
including retail, banking, transportation, etc.;
Video analytics, such as license-plate or facial
recognition;
Integration with third-party systems, such
as access control, building automation, alarm
management, video analytics and more;
Motion detection;
8
9. Customisable, resizable viewing panes; founder of IP Video Market Info, a video DON’T get stuck on a particular vendor
User interface features that include hot-spot surveillance information portal. “In the past, until you know which cameras they support.
windows, color-indicated activity, instant if you wanted to add megapixel or other IP Whereas DVRs support almost any analogue
replay, quick switching between cameras, etc.; cameras to your surveillance system, you were camera, such is not the case with IP video
“Privacy zones” to protect sensitive areas forced to go to an IP-based VMS solution,” software, which needs specific drivers for each
from being monitored; he says. “That has become much more camera type.
Creation of customised rules. For instance, complicated now that DVR vendors are rolling DON’T forget user authentication and
if a particular door opens, the camera begins out increased IP support.” authorisation. A big benefit of VMS systems is
recording and even activates an alarm or DVR vendors still don’t support the that you can centrally manage an unlimited
sends an alert; breadth of cameras that VMS-based systems number of devices. But you also need to
Camera control (pan, tilt, zoom); do, Honovich says. They might support two consider how you’re going to centrally manage
View multiple video channels at once; to five manufacturers versus leading VMS the users accessing the system, especially if
Multichannel playback, which allows users vendors, which support up to 50. “The DVR they’re geographically dispersed. One way is to
to play recorded video from several cameras folks have a ways to go to catch up,” he says. ensure the system integrates with the directory
simultaneously—useful if tracking a suspect At the same time, over the next 18 months, services you’re already using, such as Microsoft
through hallways; the distinction between these manufacturers Active Directory Support.
Multiple search devices, including fast- will largely disappear, Honovich says. He sees DO look for an intuitive user interface.
forward, reverse, thumb-nail view, time line DVR companies broadening their IP camera Security personnel can turn over quickly, so
bars, bookmarking, etc.; support and selling software-only systems, it’s important to have a system on which you
Secure export of material evidence; either independently or through acquisitions, can train people quickly and easily. Not to
Fail-over capability that enables continued while VMS vendors will offer DVR/NVR mention, many are moving from the world
recording if the primary server goes down. appliances to appeal to organisations with of analogue systems, so the transition to a
smaller camera deployments. computer interface needs to be considered.
Software-only versus appliance Already, he says, hybrid DVR vendors DO consider resource-saving features.
Users can choose between software that they
load, configure and manage on a server of
their choosing or a hardware appliance that’s
preloaded with software. The benefits of Users can choose between software that they
appliances are reduced setup and installation
complexity, while disadvantages are less
load, configure and manage on a server of
flexibility, fewer customisation options and their choosing or a hardware appliance that’s
more difficult integration with third-party
systems. According to Simon Harris, senior
preloaded with software.
research director at IMS Research, more
advanced users will typically opt for software-
only solutions, while those that aren’t offer enterprise-level functionality, such as Some features can help minimise time
comfortable doing setup and configuration centralised management and third-party and staffing levels, including alarm clients,
will choose an appliance, or what IMS calls a system support that, in some cases, is superior mapping clients and smart searching. Alarm
proprietary system. to VMS vendors, especially in the area of clients display a blank video screen until
“If you have only a small number of access control. “IP players will say they’re more activity occurs on associated cameras. Only
cameras and don’t intend to integrate with open, but I’d ask them to prove that,” he says. video triggered by motion or alarm will
your access control or building management display, which prevents the operator from
system, that lends itself to proprietary VMS dos and don’ts being bombarded with potentially irrelevant
systems,” Harris says. “As they get bigger and DO investigate the level of support for third- video information. This can cut down on the
more complex, that’s when they go for open party systems. VMS systems can integrate with number of personnel you need. Some alarm
platform.” a wide range of third-party systems, including clients include a history list of events, so an
access control, video analytics, building operator can click on an item in the list and
VMS versus hybrid DVR automation and alarm management systems. quickly play back video of the event.
Some DVR vendors have begun selling Companies should investigate not just DO understand cost structures. Many
software that enables their DVRs to support whether the VMS integrates with the systems vendors calculate cost by charging a certain
both IP cameras and directly connected it needs, but also the level of integration, amount for each video device used with
analogue cameras. VMS-based systems can which varies widely. the system, plus an upgrade subscription
also support analogue cameras, but they At a basic level, the VMS can receive fee, which entitles the user to download
require the use of an encoder to translate the and act on alarm events from the third- new versions of the software. Some also
signal to digital. With hybrid DVRs, both types party system, he says. For example, when a charge a server fee, either as a site license
of cameras are supported directly. person enters a building, an access control or for each server on which the software
The hybrid option will be particularly system could trigger the video management is installed. Per-device costs vary widely,
attractive to companies during the economic system to verify that the image of the person mainly depending on the system’s level
downturn, when many end users will be captured from video matches the ID card/ of sophistication. Very high-end systems
motivated to make modest, incremental system. At a more sophisticated level, you’d can be over $1,000 per camera, while an
upgrades to IP, while staying with their be able to configure the third-party system enterprise-level, scalable system can be
existing DVR providers, says John Honovich, through the VMS interface. $200 to $500 per camera.
9
10. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
BUYERS’ GUIDE
A BUYERS’ GUIDE TO
IP SURVEILLANCE
CAMERAS
IP network-based surveillance cameras offer enticing
possibilities. But do you want full or partial IP? How
much bandwidth? We’ll walk you through the entire
process.
N
etwork cameras for IP-based still get some of the advantages of IP
video surveillance systems while maintaining your investment in
have been around since 1996. analog by using encoders that convert
These are attached directly to the analog signal to one that can run
the network and send video to a network over IP. Though this kind of systems
video recorder or to a server equipped works well, it is not architected for
with video management software, which growth. Full IP installations are more use in situations where there are many
stores, displays or broadcasts the images. streamlined and efficient and require users. To optimise bandwidth, you
It will be another couple of years, less maintenance. They’re digital from may need to use application delivery
according to consultancy and research one end to another and are very reliable controllers and/or wide-area-network
firm Gartner, before the market favors because there are fewer moving parts. optimisation controllers, he says.
IP over analog. However, IP cameras Second, consider if there is enough
are considered a fast-growing market; bandwidth on the corporate backbone. Evaluation Criteria
according to IMS Research, the global Because IP-based surveillance places The range of features available on
network video market grew 42 percent new demands on existing network network cameras is constantly changing,
last year and is expected to reach $2.6 infrastructures, the physical security but here are some basic things to look
billion by 2010. department has to work with IT to for, according to analysts.
Experts say the reasons for analogue’s implement or even choose the best
continued dominance center mainly system, which means overcoming a Field of view: According to Vining, most
around upgrade costs and a general lack of traditional barrier between the two applications call for a 240-degree field of
knowledge about networking technologies groups. The best decisions on network view and a zoom capability of 500 feet. For
in many physical security departments. design will be made jointly between those who need more, there are pan/tilt/
the two groups, says Jeff Vining, zoom (PTZ) cameras, which can provide
Two key decisions research vice president at Gartner. For 360-degree views. These can cost more than
When looking at your options, the first instance, because streaming live video is twice as much as fixed cameras, Vining says,
thing you need to consider is whether bandwidth-intensive, it can be too costly and normally require more maintenance
you should use full or partial IP. You can to upgrade networks or too difficult to because of their moving parts.
10
11. standards, such as in the areas of
security and video compression, Gartner
recommends. Also look for open
application programming interfaces and
multiple supported software applications.
Scalability: Companies with large
installations will want the equipment
to be compatible with tools that locate,
update and monitor the status of the
devices and their IP addresses.
Service/support: Make sure the vendor or
reseller is able to send replacement parts
quickly and can readily offer engineering
support. Many network camera
manufacturers sell indirectly through
channel partners, which is common in
the IT industry but not in the security
industry. This takes some getting used to
among traditional security personnel.
DOS and DON’TS
DON’T let cost be your guiding
light. Most people buy cameras
with cost as their highest priority
and effectiveness as the second,
which results in grainy, out-of-focus
images. There are tools available
that help you choose the resolution
and lens that fits your needs, based
on factors like distance and camera
Bandwidth: It’s a huge issue, especially as Resolution: Many users are moving toward height. Determine what you need
demand grows for more cameras on the megapixel cameras, which offer five to accomplish whether it’s reading
network and higher-resolution images. times the resolution of video graphics a license plate number or simply
You can reduce bandwidth consumption array (VGA) cameras. Not only do you knowing whether cars are moving
by putting intelligence into the camera, get a clearer image, but because of the through a tunnel.
says Simon Harris, senior analyst at IMS higher resolution, you can also reduce
Research, so, for instance, only certain the number of cameras you need. DO understand the trade-offs
images are forwarded. However, that to high-quality images. Industry
means you’re not recording nonevents Auto filtering: For image clarity in various experts advise people to favor a
that may supply needed context. “You lighting situations, it’s important to get a crisper image over smooth motion.
need to use that selectively,” he says. camera with adjustable lenses to control
the amount of light that is received. This is DO consider the benefits of
Power source: The state-of-the-art especially important, Vining says, when a centralising video surveillance
approach for network cameras is to camera is facing east or west. However, he
use power over Ethernet (POE), which says, some organisations will simply elevate DON’T assume everything is mix
means you power the camera through camera mounts and then angle downward and match. While many network
the same wire that sends the IP signal, to view the horizon rather than incur the cameras claim compatibility with
saving up to $300 per camera. POE is additional costs of adjustable lenses. many vendors’ video management
not always available on PTZ cameras, software, some management
however, because of the amount of Open platforms: Look for vendors that software is more open than others.
power they consume comply 100 percent with industry
Relationship of victim port to significant and non-signifcant disturbers 11
12. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
FEATURE
MIGRATING TO
ALL-IP VIDEO
SURVEILLANCE
A
ll-IP video security leverages
your investment in network
infrastructure, and is simpler,
IP video surveillance is becoming the security more elegant and accessible
to users across the enterprise. In many
solution of choice due to the latest H.264 cases, it also is more cost-effective than a
conventional video surveillance system with
compression technology and declining prices for IP analog cameras and digital video recorders.
Using IP cameras, video management
cameras. The converged world of voice, video and software (VMS) running on industry-
data has officially arrived. standard servers and network-area
storage systems, you can maximise the
value of your investment in network
infrastructure and standardise on
servers across your enterprise, enabling
efficiencies in training, administration
and support.
But all-IP video isn’t for everyone.
It makes most sense in expansive,
greenfield applications requiring a
large numbers of cameras. University
campuses, shopping and entertainment
complexes, hospitals, hotels, airports,
big box stores, warehouses and office
towers are examples in which all-IP
12
13. even progress along the technology
migration path in your existing buildings
if, for example, you wish to install a
high-resolution IP camera in a strategic
location, integrate with other building
systems such as fire alarm and access
control systems, or deploy advanced
video analytics that can alert security
staff in real-time to unusual activity.
There is no single, IP video solution
or ideal configuration. For example, if
you have a distributed organisation with
hundreds of smaller sites spanning a
large geographic area, coaxial cable and
networked video recorders might make
more sense for recording video at relatively
low frame rates. An all-IP configuration,
however, may be the most cost-effective
solution if you need very high resolution
video or the intelligence available from
advanced video analytic applications.
Other IP video benefits include the
ability to access remote locations via
your LAN or WAN and centralise security
monitoring instead of stationing guards
at each site. Furthermore, with VMS
software running on industry-standard
servers, an all-IP system can be managed
easily by your existing IT staff.
An IP video environment also lets
you leverage video for uses other than
security. An IP video system can be used
to support marketing activities and
operational management. For example,
video security is a no-brainer. However,
bringing video security onto your IP
network is far from an all-or-nothing
proposition. Using advanced video
Other IP video benefits include the ability to
security technology, you can evolve access remote locations via your LAN or WAN
toward an all-IP configuration at a pace
that makes sense for your environment. and centralise security monitoring instead
Take, for example, a university
campus with several buildings under of stationing guards at each site.
construction. It can take advantage of
the cost efficiencies of a converged
voice, video and data system in the to operate the resulting hybrid video in an airport terminal, supervisors can
new buildings and continue to leverage surveillance system. employ a queue length monitoring
its investment in legacy video security You don’t have to rip and replace analytic to identify when passenger
infrastructure in existing buildings. analog cameras and coaxial cable lineups exceed a predetermined
Common VMS software can be used until you’re ready to do so. You can threshold and open another check-in
13
14. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
???
TAKING THE ‘CLOSED’ OUT OF CCTV
CCTV surveillance systems are video to recording device, how does
notoriously proprietary. (Hey, those the device handle storing it, playing
circuits are “closed”, after all.) The it back and being able to create
station to better serve customers. IP networking protocol is generally metadata so you can find it again?”
Another advantage of hybrid and all-IP thought of as an ‘open’ system - said Fowler.
video surveillance systems is the ability to but that doesn’t mean all IP-based Fowler said the goal is for recording
streamline the management of user profiles surveillance devices work together. devices and video management
and permissions across the enterprise. Members of the Physical Security systems to enable users to have a
Integrating VMS software with applications Interoperability Alliance (www. single video management system
such as Microsoft Active Directory allows psialliance.org), a consortium of (VMS) to view recorded video. The end
you to set up user permissions for your approximately 50 physical security result, he said, would reduce significant
video surveillance system and other IT product providers, continue to tackle headaches and expensive changes that
security applications. If someone leaves the issue of interoperability between are necessary now because there is
the organisation, takes a sabbatical or gets IP-enabled security technologies. currently no interoperability protocol
married and changes their name, you don’t The group recently released a draft for existing DVR/NVR solutions.
have to remember to delete or update of what it hopes will become the “While they (DVRs/NVRs) typically
user profiles and permissions in multiple second specification to standardise have the functionality of this
databases. This, in turn, eliminates errors IP-enabled video platforms. specification in their technology,
and tightens security. The so-called ‘Recording and they don’t have a standard way of
Potential concerns about the impact Content Management’ (RaCM) draft communicating with systems outside
of all this high-resolution video on specification builds on a specification their box,” said Fowler. “So this says:
the corporate network is addressed by released earlier this year that created Instead of communicating in a
modern IP video solutions. Advanced standards for how a video stream goes proprietary format that only you can
compression technologies, such as from a camera to viewers or recording understand, here is a mapping of a
H.264, reduce bandwidth and storage devices. This latest RaCM specification format you can put your technology
requirements considerably. takes the second step. RaCM would into that will allow anyone else
Administrators can also configure standardise the way recording and that wants to talk to your box, to
an IP video system to capture and store content management products talk to your box.” After the group
video at a lower frame rate and then communicate with other devices in the assimilates public comment from
bump up that frame rate automatically security ecosystem, according to PSIA security industry professionals on the
on alarm. Taking advantage of intelligent member Dave Fowler. specification, it will be open for input
features available with most systems “This second area is: If you send from a wider group, said Fowler.
allows you to transmit video only
upon a specific event, such as motion
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15. detected in an office building after
HDTV-BASEDVIDEOSURVEILLANCE
normal business hours. In addition, some
video surveillance systems let you set
bandwidth usage, limiting the video
streaming along the network to a fixed
bit rate to ensure core business data is
never compromised. Finally, bandwidth A recently formed group has these new HDTV video surveillance
usage can be managed through the proposed a standard for high- systems. The group also expects to
selection of IP cameras and encoders definition video surveillance work on other types of technical
with internal SDHC flash memory systems that allows HDTV signals guidelines in the future.
cards that enable video capture at the to be transmitted digitally over Rockoff says that HDTV used with an
network’s edge. conventional closed-circuit TV media HDsdi serial digital interface over regular
When video analytics were introduced without packetisation. coaxial cable offers some advantages
several years ago, their performance Todd Rockoff, executive chair of over IP-based camera equipment,
in the field often did not match the HDcctv Alliance, says the first another type of video surveillance
manufacturers’ claims. Today, however, version of the standard, available technology touted to replace older
a number of proven analytics are widely to members now and to the closed-circuit analog surveillance.
used. These advanced applications public, was developed to promote IP-based video, which requires
represent a competitive advantage interoperability in different vendors’ packetisation to transmit video streams
for organisations and are increasingly HDTV cameras, digital video recorders over routing infrastructures, uses
considered essential for critical and monitors. more network bandwidth and “a few
infrastructure security. A new generation of HDTV megapixel cameras on them will bring
There are three broad classes of video equipment for video surveillance them to their knees,” Rockoff contends.
analytics available today. Diagnostic in broadcast-quality high- While the HDcctv Alliance is not
analytics alert system administrators to definition digital video is arriving against packetising video streams per
blocked camera views or scene changes as an improvement on older analog se -- it can be appropriate when video
that may be indicative of tampering or systems, Rockoff says. These HDTV- needs to be sent over the Internet,
obstructions. If a camera is dislodged based surveillance systems can for example -- it’s not necessarily the
from its housing, spray painted, moved be deployed easily over existing right choice when video streams are
or blocked, for example, the analytics closed-circuit media, such as cabling collected internally, Rockoff says. «An
will transmit an alarm and allow security commonly used by corporations, IP-based camera has a built-in delay of
personnel to rectify the problem with government and retailers for their at least half a second,” he says, noting
minimal delay. older analog video systems, he says. it makes it hard for video-surveillance
The second class of analytics is The HDcctv Alliance industry workers to control the «speed dome,”
security-related and more complex to set standard, if implemented widely, the pan, tilting and zooming.
up, but well worth the effort. These tools would offer baseline interoperability “IP cameras are not the future;
can automatically alert security staff to among the major components of HDTV is the future,» Rockoff says.
suspicious events, such as a perimeter
breach, an unattended bag or a person
loitering in an ATM vestibule.
The third category is behavioral analytics, management can use to increase sales and the resources involved in replacing them
such as people counting or queue length improve customer service. will, in many cases, dictate a phased
monitoring, which provide organisations The convergence of voice, video migration to hybrid video configurations
with valuable operational intelligence and and data won’t happen overnight. The that can serve as a bridge to the
metrics that marketing teams or senior investment in legacy CCTV systems and inevitable all-IP future.
To determine the best path to IP video
for your organisation, take the same
approach you would with any technology
To determine the best path to IP infrastructure. Develop a long-term road
map with a phased implementation that
video for your organisation, take the takes into account your surveillance
infrastructure, future video requirements
same approach you would with any and budgetary realities. You can have the
best of both worlds, but not without the
technology infrastructure. proper due diligence. Do your research,
conduct a thorough trial and evaluation
and, by all means, ask for references.
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16. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
Q&A
UPPING THE ANTE
W
ith most organisations activations and required actions. The These have many advantages over
making a transition from inability of the operator to monitor and traditional analogue systems – including
older, videotape-based process multiple alarm events is often higher resolution, greater intelligence
surveillance systems to cited as the weak point in traditional and easier, more flexible installations.
IP-based surveillance networks, Sony surveillance systems. However in EMEA, approx. 70% of
Professional Solutions is looking to cash Introduced in 2006, Sony’s unique the market is still analogue based. We
in the on the demand with a broad array Distributed Enhanced Processing recognise this and in light of current
of products and services. Simon Nash, Architecture (DEPA) addresses this issue economic conditions, this is hardly
Senior European Marketing Manager, with an innovative design approach. surprising. Organisations need to
Video Security, talks about some of the DEPA from Sony is an embedded minimise costs and get as much out of
key trends shaping the market. technology providing pre-processing of their existing investments as possible.
image data within its camera technology This is why only Sony offer a complete
What are the new innovations in the video and post-processing of image data portfolio of hybrid video security
surveillance market? within its recording and monitoring solutions – from cameras and recorders
We are seeing an increase in customer solutions. DEPA-enabled surveillance to software, encoders and monitors.
demand for higher and higher equipment assists security staff in seeing When you Go Hybrid with Sony, we’ll
resolutions. This started with the crucial events in real-time. help you take advantage of the latest
introduction of Megapixel cameras and The more recent introduction of IP products (inc HD), whilst protecting
has driven the latest HD innovations. intelligent video and alarm analysis your existing analogue investment.
Sony was proud to launch the world’s has provided a reduction in operator Sony offers total flexibility through our
first intelligent HD PTZ camera last year. workflow by the addition of pre- Hybrid approach to seamless integration
With the recent introduction of two configured alarms, linked to pre- of new and existing video technology.
brand new HD additions to the range, programmed actions. This improvement
Sony is clearly a market leader in HD in overall security is driving the demand The issue of interoperability between
product development. for intelligent solutions. IP-enabled security technologies is still
a concern. What is Sony doing to drive
What is driving the demand for intelligent Do you see a transition from analogue to interoperability and standardise IP-enabled
video systems? IP? When can we expect IP cameras overtake video platforms?
Video surveillance has historically been CCTV cameras as the dominant equipment in In recognising technology
dependent upon human intervention video surveillance? interoperability as the key to wide
and control, the system operator often At Sony, we continue to see a transition spread adoption of network video
providing the interface between alarm to IP-based video security systems. solutions, Sony along with a number of
leading manufacturers has pioneered
the establishment of ONVIF (Open
Network Video Interface Forum).
The global standards for analogue
The more recent introduction of intelligent video are long established and
deliver full interconnectivity and
video and alarm analysis has provided a interoperability between manufacturer’s
reduction in operator workflow by the products. IP cameras and network video
solutions do not however currently
addition of pre-configured alarms, linked to benefit from global interoperability.
pre-programmed actions. The proliferation of IP network
video solutions presents a unique set
of challenges for both end users and
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17. introduces simplicity and ease of use to
the integration of solutions delivered
by multiple manufacturers. Sony’s
range of network video solutions
offers compatibility with a wide range
of manufactures platforms making it
even easier for end users, integrators,
consultants and manufacturers to
integrate with Sony products.
Using ONVIF enabled Sony products
unlocks freedom of customer choice and
delivers the exciting opportunities available
from integrating Sony’s truly flexible and
scalable network video solutions
What will be the impact of new technologies
such as improved facial analysis and analytics?
Facial recognition and image analytics
are still in their infancy in terms of their
accuracy. However, it is very clear that
these technologies can and will play an
increasingly critical role in the security
industry. As mentioned previously, we
believe the higher resolutions enabled
by HD will be a driver to the successful
adoption of these exciting technologies.
What roles will different types of wireless
technology play in this market?
Wireless technology plays a small but
important part of the security industry.
Sony is proud to say that almost all of our
cameras come equipped with a wireless
card slot.
Sony has unveiled a new range of high definition
pan tilt zoom (PTZ) security cameras. Does HD
technology suit the security industry? Can you
transmit HDTV signals over conventional closed-
circuit TV media?
The Video Security industry is highly
reliant on the very best technology to
provide clear images. These could be
used for identification, recognition or
even prosecution of criminals. This alone
makes HD a perfect solution for security
applications. However, it is equally
important to ensure that the network
bandwidth is managed efficiently.
With this in mind, Sony has been a
system integrators alike. This is why of network video solutions within leader since 2006 in adding H.264 to
Sony along with a number of leading the global security market. Focussing our cameras. Since H.264 compression
manufacturers has pioneered the on system interoperability, the is so advanced, it does demand more
establishment of ONVIF (Open Network development of a Worldwide open processing power than older formats,
Video Interface Forum). standard is the forums primary mission. but as Sony network cameras natively
ONVIF (established in 2008) is Sony through its commitment support H.264 in hardware this doesn’t
committed to promoting the adoption to adoption of the open standard make any difference in operational terms.
17
18. CIOSURVIVALGUIDE
Q&A
RIGHT ON TRACK
domestic market. However, owing to
opportunities in other countries we have
been able to report growth in business.
Sales has also picked up for smaller
projects within the region.
Which verticals are buying? Are financial and
retails sectors still the biggest adopters?
We are seeing enquiries come in strongly
from Education and Hospitality segments of
the regional market. In certain countries city
surveillance also has been a major area of
business opportunity. We are yet to witness
major wins in Financial and Retail segments.
What changes in product selection or
preferences are you seeing?
There is a big push in amongst customers
to acquire new age technologies that
are based on a IP platform. Further,
megapixel cameras are gaining ground
in certain projects. We have also seen
customers willing to invest in hybrid
solutions in order to keep their existing
CCTV network.
What are the key differentiators when
selecting DVRs, IP Video software and
megapixel cameras?
We have been continuously upgrading
our line up in its functionality, flexibility
and scalability. A effective and modern
solution should have the following traits:
intelligent object/motion detection
capability, supports H.264, reproduces
high quality images for still and motion
and finally offers outdoor installation
options such as wireless and weather
proofing. Our range of solutions offer
these benefits without a doubt.
How are IP video standards impacting video
surveillance systems?
On 22nd Sep 2009 in the US ONVIF
demonstrated 14 interoperable video
V
products from 9 companies complying to
ideo surveillance is one of the Marketing Manager, Sony Professional, core specification 1.0. There is a growing
fastest growing areas in physical explains the reasons behind the growing awareness in the IP video industry to
security. Companies of all sizes popularity of digital video surveillance, ONVIF and participation has just crossed
are snapping up well-priced and his company’s activities in the region. 100 members. This clearly marks the
video cameras and video analytics beginning of a new era of collaboration
systems that allow you to store high- How is the recession impacting the industry? within the IP video industry to bring to
quality images of relevant data such Have you been able to grow your business? the world standardised products which
as individual faces and license plates. Yes, there has been considerable will add to the flexibility and scalability
Magesh Srinivasan, Regional Sales & slowdown in certain segments of the of surveillance solutions.
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