The second SMART Estate Security Conference of 2024 was held in May in KwaZulu-Natal at the Mount Edgecombe Estate Conference Centre, which is located on the Estate’s golf course. Once again, several sponsors supported the conference, and the venue was packed with visitors from commercial and residential estates, together with industry players such as integrators and installers. SMART Security Solutions was once again privileged to give away a few prizes, including Rob Anderson’s iconic book Secure by Design: A Guide to Residential Estate Security.
The sponsors on the day included:
• Axis Communications.
• Marshall Security.
• Nemtek.
• OneSpace.
The insider threat
Andre Du Venage, MD of Secure Logistics, kicked off the presentations for the day. He spoke about a topic that is a high-risk vulnerability in all organisations and industries: insider threats. With all the publicity we hear and read about cybersecurity and fraud (and all types of crimes), it’s often easy to forget that people within the organisation have access to enormous amounts of information, and certain of them also have access to financial information and processes.
Du Venage highlighted the example of Robert Hansson, an FBI agent who spied for the Soviet Union and Russia between 1979 and 2001. Placed in trusted positions, Hanssen is said to have sold about 6000 classified documents to the KGB detailing American strategies in the event of nuclear war, information on military weapon technologies, and some US counterintelligence processes, among other crimes. His activities were later described by the Department of Justice as “possibly the worst intelligence disaster in US history”.
Insiders are more than a threat to just governments. Many cases of fraud have been publicised in South Africa, where employees stole money over many years by using fake invoices, changing bank account details, and so forth. However, insider threats are more than financial.
He also remembered Babita Deokaran, a South African whistleblower who was murdered in 2021 because she reported corruption occurring at the Gauteng Department of Health. At the time of her death, she was the acting chief financial officer at the Gauteng Provincial Government Department of Health. However, she was on special leave while an investigation into her corruption exposures was underway. Insider threats can, therefore, be more than lone-wolf endeavours to make money; they are often also associated with crime syndicate activities.
Insiders do not always resort to murder to protect themselves, often using bullying or intimidation or some ‘acceptable’ business tactics to stop people from asking questions, or even getting them removed from the company entirely.
Du Venage highlighted the importance of being able to identify who works for you, not simply according to their ID card, but by regular screening and vetting to ensure they are not associated with syndicates, and to see if there are any dramatic lifestyle changes for no apparent reason (which may be why lifestyle audits are not popular among South African politicians).
A single system approach
Barry East, CEO of OneSpace, was up next, talking about the value of integration, not only of traditional security technologies, but also of the increasing number of IoT systems estates are putting in place as they move to mixed-use estates and even mini-municipalities, as the national and local governments increasingly fail to provide the services they should.
The value of integration between systems is not a technical issue, although many technical complexities are involved behind the scenes. It is a means to improve management efficiency and the ‘happiness coefficient’ of residents and visitors. East said it is also a way to “balance the scales” of the never-ending conflict between security and convenience.
Demonstrating the realities of the tons of data and processes estates collect, he pointed out some of the functions that often operate independently but can be ‘data mined’ to improve performance and efficiency: property management, people, staff, contractors, dependents, access control, visitor management, statutory requirements, communications, lease management, property sales management, panic buttons, vehicles, pets, facilities management, job cards, project management, AGM/SGM, financials, new builds, alterations, and many more.
Having a lot of data does not mean there are treasures to uncover. If your data is inaccurate, the old cliche of ‘garbage in, garbage out’ applies. Even with good data, linking all the data to obtain intelligence that creates valuable information can be complex. However, when an installation is designed to analyse integrated data from various systems, not only will the systems perform their individual functions, but the combined intelligence will impact the outcome of the management of the whole estate (or any organisation of any size).
The solution OneSpace offers estates is a combination of various products managed from a single cloud platform that manages all the records from multiple data points. Apart from the individual functionality of systems, such as visitor management, LPR, and so forth, the analysis combines all data into information with context that makes the environment easier to manage and more efficient, with intelligence as a force multiplier.
East says integrating all data and processes into one system allows any environment to be managed by exception, a goal the security industry has pursued for years.
Enhanced command and control
Continuing the discussion on the effective analysis and use of data, Ian Downie, Sales and Marketing Director, Xone Integrated Security, was next to discuss improving command and control (C&C) operations on estates, and ensuring continual operational improvements based on the latest data.
Downie started by describing the common control room environment we see today, including the risks involved in still using the old OB book, standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are not digitised, poorly trained operators and management, and poor reporting.
Xone has developed a system that improves control room operations, including continual staff training. The system also continuously improves performance via its incident management system (IMS) and offsite analysis.
The system starts with selecting competent control room staff and managers, and creating a formal training roadmap for each. The effectiveness of the control room or individual operators is continually monitored electronically, which feeds into the training system and allows specific areas of weakness to be addressed and improved. The monitoring in the Information Management System ensures that all standard operating procedures are established at the outset and adhered to for every incident, regardless of its nature.
Regular reports are also sent to different stakeholders to let them know how the control room is doing, and whether it meets the goals set at start-up. The goals are updated as time passes and situations evolve. The reports are visual, and tailored to the people receiving them, ensuring each person sees the information they need to optimise their’s and others’ performance and to boost the efficiency of the control room operation as a whole.
These objectives are defined in the initial phases of setting up the control room, including a CCTV Surveillance Assessment to “assess the system and control room from the perspective of a surveillance practitioner, as opposed to a technician”. The assessment provides insight into the efficiency and sufficiency of each camera according to its purpose. If a camera fails to meet its objective, steps to remedy the situation are also included.
To accomplish the goal of continuous improvement, Xone’s Quality Controller checks each entry logged on the system “for logical consistency, factual accuracy, completeness, and overall quality”. This is included in the data analysis, which is automated, but also complemented with manual analysis by Xone offsite staff to deliver the performance report and identify potential areas of improvement.
The initial set-up phase can take some time as the surveillance assessment, and each client’s needs are unique, and the control room operation is designed to meet those specific requirements from the start.
The current reality of AI in security and beyond
Johan van Wyk, Sales Director at Fang and Astrosec, brought people back from the tea break with a presentation on AI, where it’s at right now, and how it can be used to improve security services. A critical point Van Wyk; made is that while there are many useful functions and features that AI can enhance in the security world, AI is not a silver bullet.
However, AI is not something we can ignore in security or anywhere else. He demonstrated it by playing a video of Morgan Freeman welcoming everyone to the conference, which was created by AI.
He noted that AI has and will continue to add real value in the video analytics arena, including areas such as object recognition, anomaly detection and behaviour analysis. We are also moving into a time when AI functions will warn us of potential security breaches before they happen. This will help us move towards proactive security operations that prevent issues instead of only reacting after the fact.
Yet, while many love the idea of AI helping them in their daily lives (whether security-related or not), the issue of privacy is one of many struggles to deal with. Van Wyk highlighted how an anti-AI top was developed by students from the University of Maryland in the United States, which prevents video analytics from identifying the wearer as a person, even as they move around in front of the camera. Of course, as soon as this was developed, the AI team started working on a solution to counteract it.
Other areas in which AI will deliver remarkable advances in automation and robotics, and cybersecurity. In the cyber world, AI is being used to benefit criminals, but also to improve and speed up defence functionality. The integration with IoT systems holds even more potential, as it will soon allow for more comprehensive and intelligent security solutions.
Despite the fun aspects of AI he presented, Van Wyk also noted there are ethical questions one must consider – one being the privacy issue. He notes that regulations and ethical guidelines are needed to ensure its responsible and ethical use, and the EU is leading the field in this regard.
Finally, Van Wyk introduced the concept of ‘Humics’, a contraction of “uniquely human abilities”. Humics refers to the ‘human essence’ and what makes us unique. This includes creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity.
The benefits of integration and LPR
With the increasing popularity of LPR in both commercial and residential estates, Dave Rampersad, National Sales Manager at Syntell, addressed the topic of integrating licence-plate recognition (LPR) or automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR), into the access control and visitor management operations of estates. Talking all things traffic-related, Rampersad highlighted the Joint Information System (JIS), which offers access to various LPR functions, and the ability to make use of traditional CCTV cameras as LPR cameras (and it includes speed enforcement, including average speed over distance).
The JIS system provides a central repository and management nerve centre for the interchange of violation and wanted data. It manages information in real time, interacting with equipment deployed at fixed or mobile locations. The JIS is integrated into national control rooms, law enforcement databases, and Interpol, which ensures it provides real-time intelligence and actionable insights to security personnel.
Of the functionality available in the JIS, NPR Lite is a user-friendly mobile app for simplified LPR, while ANPR Pro is a more robust LPR service.
Rampersad also noted some integration trends that will impact the LPR market in the coming years. One is cybersecurity, which we all know is a risk when dealing with cloud-based services. AI will also be employed to optimise the capabilities of LPR devices and services, which will assist in improved accuracy and faster recognition. As Van Wyk also mentioned, IoT and the integration and interoperability of more devices will change the market considerably.
Making the right technology choices
Technology was a vital element of the conference and associated exhibition. Although estates tend to look for solutions rather than specific tech solutions, they still need to buy the right equipment from the right suppliers if they want a working and efficient solution.
Selecting the correct access control or visitor management system is arguably estates’ most important technology and solution decision. Frazer Matchett, Managing Director of Enkulu Technology, was on hand to discuss making a good selection based on functionality rather than simply price.
Matchett and Enkulu’s staff have a solid technical background and are thus well qualified to discuss making good selection choices. The estate should focus on a few essential areas if it wants to be sure it gets the right technology, which includes the capabilities of the supplier and not only the hardware.
When evaluating potential suppliers, one of the primary considerations should be their technical support capabilities. A reliable supplier understands the intricate details of security equipment and provides comprehensive support. They can also provide their customers with the appropriate training and documentation. One also needs to consider the supplier’s integrity, including their reputation, relevant certifications, and a history of client support. Their ethics in business are also crucial to ensuring the relationship with them is trustworthy, and they are a partner you can rely on.
Part of this relationship will be the supplier’s service delivery, a key differentiator in an overcrowded market. Some issues to focus on include their responsiveness to problems or queries, their willingness to customise solutions to your requirements, and their approach to problem resolution, irrespective of the seriousness of the problem.
After-sales support is also critical, and suppliers should offer comprehensive warranties and maintenance plans, not simply what the technology provider offers. Having spare parts in stock is essential to prevent lengthy delays, as we saw when supply chains almost ground to a halt after COVID-19.
Selecting technology also depends on the brand one chooses (or the supplier recommends). Has the technology been put through its paces? Is it a trusted brand with a good market reputation? Are they designed with security in mind (cyber as well as physical security since data security is critical in every industry today)?
Gate motors go lithium
One of the problems individuals, estates (and basically everyone) have experienced with South Africa’s electricity ups and downs, which we hope are approaching an end, but one never knows, is battery-operated gate motors. The motors and batteries work well enough, but with rolling blackouts, the traditional lead acid batteries are prone to failing quickly due to the unreliable supply.
Gerald Kirsten, Sales & Marketing Executive at Nice Group South Africa, ended the day’s presentations by noting that, until recently, lithium batteries could not handle the startup surge demanded when a gate opens during blackouts. Nice SA, a local manufacturer headquartered in Cape Town, worked with a local battery manufacturer in Johannesburg to develop a lithium battery that could handle the task. The technology used was LiFePO4, which differs from the standard Li-Ion battery technology used in many products today.
The benefits are primarily that the companies’ new batteries can handle the startup load, and boast improvements compared to lead-acid batteries. The batteries are lighter and can be discharged 100% without cutting the working lifespan of the battery; lead-acid batteries should not be discharged past 50% of their capability, as this shortens their working life.
Kirsten explained that a battery management system (BMS) is built into the battery to ensure it protects itself and prolongs its useful life. The Nice LiFePO4 batteries offer between 2000 and 4000 cycles, as opposed to the 500 to 1000 cycles of a well-maintained lead-acid system.
LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries offer significant advantages over lead-acid batteries. However, they have limitations. For instance, charging these batteries at temperatures below 0°C or above 40°C is not recommended (although the operating temperature is between -20 and 60°C). Additionally, not all lithium-based batteries can be simply ‘dropped in’ to replace lead-acid systems.
Potentially, the most impressive aspect of the new Nice batteries is the warranty. While lead-acid warranties are abysmal for gate motors because of their short lifespan when the electricity supply is poor, Kirsten said Nice SA offers a two-year limited warranty on its LiFePO4 solutions.
SMART Security Solutions would like to thank all the delegates, sponsors, and speakers for their time and efforts in making the conference successful. According to the feedback forms we received, the conference was well received, and pertinent; useful information was shared throughout the day from the presentations and the exhibitions.
For more information, contact:
• Axis Communications,
• Marshall Security,
• Nemtek,
• OneSpace,
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