Biometrics Technology in Smartphone

eSSL Security

Using biometric identifiers for secure access to mobile devices is not new, but in most organizations it has been relegated to a marginal role at best.

The technology's status could be set for a fundamental change, however. Apple's new iPhone 5S, released in late September, comes with a built-in Touch ID fingerprint sensor. When the device's owner touches the Smartphone’s home button, the sensor reads the fingerprint and unlocks the phone. The feature can also be used to authorize iTunes store purchases.

Technology watchers contend that Apple's fingerprint foray, if successful, could take biometrics into the mainstream. That is a huge catalyst for the biometrics industry — as long as it works well and usability is good. The expectation is clear that biometrics will be getting a more prominent role in authentication in mobile market. There is an increase in research and development efforts focused on using biometric technology for authenticating users on mobile platforms.

Why it matters?

The technology's advocates argue that biometrics offer users an easier way to access mobile devices, and therefore, people are more likely to use it, which makes the devices more secure. Published reports suggest that fewer than half of iPhone users bother to set a four-digit pass code, and even then, codes can be forgotten, stolen or overcome via brute-force attacks.

Apple's video introducing Touch ID hails the fingerprint as one of the best passwords in the world because it stays with the person and no two are alike.

Perhaps of greater interest to enterprise security managers, biometric identifiers can provide an additional layer of authentication. Passwords and PINs represent the baseline and are often augmented with secure tokens, such as smart cards. Biometric technology offers another authentication factor.
If a consumer device comes ready-made with this capability, it would behoove anyone to leverage that one piece as part of the authentication process.

If the technology becomes prevalent on consumer devices, agencies might end up relying more heavily on biometrics, citing the importance of taking advantage of built-in technology versus paying for a separate authentication factor.

The fundamentals:
Examples of human characteristics that can prove identity include fingerprints, facial features and iris patterns. Biometric systems capture an image of a particular feature and store its unique characteristics as a mathematical template. A matching algorithm compares the stored template with subsequent image captures of the user's fingerprint, face, iris or other feature.

In government circles, law enforcement agencies have historically been strong users of biometrics. The FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which the agency describes as the world's largest biometric database, debuted in 1999.

Using biometric technology to secure mobile devices also has some history behind it. HP's iPAQ personal digital assistants had built-in biometric security in the early 2000s. Fingerprint readers arrived on laptops around the same time. Gradually face recognition security features arrived on laptops as well. But use of biometric technology in mobiles has not exactly captured the imaginations of mobile device manufacturers until recent times.

After Apple’s iPhone 5S launch many other leading mobile industries HTC, Samsung, etc. have announced to come up with new biometric security enabled Smartphones. A major finding from a new series of market intelligence reports from Goode Intelligence finds that by the end of 2015 there will be 619 million people using biometrics on mobile devices.
Read More

Second Generation Biometrics

eSSL Security

The deployment of first generation biometrics solutions has highlighted several challenges in the management of human identity. The new second generation biometrics systems must confront these challenges and develop novel techniques for sensing, signal/image representation, and matching.

The challenges posed to the second generation biometric technologies can be put in two categories:
  • Challenges from engineering perspective, which are focused on problems related to security, accuracy, speed, ergonomics, and size of the application.
  • Challenges from the social perspective, which include the privacy protection policies, ethical and health related concerns, and cultural biases.
Second generation biometric technologies need to ensure a balance between privacy and security. The expectations and the challenges for the second generation biometrics technologies are huge. The development of second generation biometrics technologies is going to be cumulative and continuous effort, rather than resulting from a single novel invention. The low cost of biometrics sensors and acceptable matching performance have been the dominating factors in the popularity of fingerprint modality for commercial usage.

Continued improvements in the matching performance and gradual reduction in cost of biometrics sensors can be cumulative enough to alter the selection of biometrics modalities in future. The development of smart sensing technologies will allow the researchers to effectively exploit extended biometric features and develop high performance matchers using efficient noise elimination techniques. Such multifaceted efforts can achieve the much needed gains from the second generation biometrics technologies at faster pace.

It is widely expected that sensing, storage, and computational capabilities of biometric systems will continue to improve. While this will significantly improve the throughput and usability, there are still fundamental issues related to (I) biometric representation, (II) robust matching, and (III) adaptive multimodal systems. These efforts along with the capability to automatically extract behavioral traits may be necessary for deployment for surveillance and many large scale identification applications.
Read More

How does an Elevator Controller avoid Unauthorized Access?

eSSL Security

An Elevator Control System can be integrate with other security systems like Boom barriers, Turnstiles, IP Cameras, Fingerprint and Card Readers, Alarms etc., which gives us a complete secured system. Consider a multi-floor office building including basement. In such a big building the Elevator Controlling Button Panel can be integrated with Fingerprint or Card reader so that the elevator operates only if an authorized Fingerprint or RFID is punched or flashed.

Maximum chances are that an intruder can try getting in from the basement. A boom barrier or a turnstile fitted with an alarm system can be set up just before the entry of the elevator. Even IP Cameras can be installed at the entry of the elevator in every floor. Special RFID/HID cards can be assigned only to those employees who have the authority to access a particular restricted floor (say R & D Department). Once the card is flashed before the reader the particular floor button becomes active and he/she can have access to that particular floor.

There are always chances of an unauthorized person getting hold of the RFID Card somehow from somewhere or maybe he/she can befriend an employee of the office and get him/her to punch in his/her finger over the reader. By doing this the intruder can access any floor in the office at ease. To avoid such a breach a turnstile can be installed in every floor at the exit of the elevator. As soon as the turnstile gets a mismatch of the number of cards flashed and number of individuals getting out of the elevator it can raise the alarms.
Read More

Elevator Controller

eSSL Security

With residential, commercial and office buildings growing taller day-by-day; Elevators have become the most basic and convenient way to travel and access the floors in such a multi-storey building. To keep these elevators active and perfectly running continuously all the time we need a very efficient Elevator Control System. An Elevator Controller is the system responsible for coordinating all aspects of elevator service such as travel speed, accelerating and decelerating, door opening speed and delay, leveling and hall lantern signals as well as securing the building by denying unauthorized access.

Why Elevator Controller?

The main aims of the Elevator Controller are:
  • To bring the lift car to the correct floor.
  • To minimize travel time.
  • To maximize passenger comfort by providing a smooth ride.
  • To accelerate, decelerate and travel within safe speed limits.
  • Most importantly, to deny unauthorized access.
Except for the last among the above mentioned, all others are general and basic functions of an Elevator Controller. This special function is required in office buildings which observe large traffic. Apart from regular members of staff who are present on a daily basis, depending upon the nature of its business, an office is likely to receive visitors, temporary staff, field staff, etc. Although they are not there on a regular basis they can potentially blend in with office workers. It is important to keep track of who is in the office building and to ensure that unauthorized people are not able to gain access to valuables and sensitive information.
Read More

Expectations from Biometrics Technologies

eSSL Security

Increasing requirements for security in many sectors of our society have generated a tremendous interest in biometrics. This has also raised expectations from Biometric Technologies. These expectations can be summarized into five categories:

Performance - The recognition performance achievable from a biometric system is of utmost interest in the deployment of biometric systems. A biometric system is prone to numerous errors; failure to enroll (FTE), false accept rate (FAR), and false reject rate (FRR). The system performance is further characterized in terms of transaction time or throughput. The accuracy of a biometric system is not static, but it is data dependent and influenced by several factors:
  • Biometric quality, which is related to the quality of sensed signal/image.
  • Composition of target user population (e.g., gender, race, age, and profession).
  • Size of database (i.e., number of subjects enrolled in the system).
  • Time interval between enrolment and verification data.
  • Variations in the operating environment (e.g., temperature, humidity, and illumination).
  • Distinctiveness of biometric modality.
  • Robustness of employed algorithms (namely, segmentation, feature extraction, and matching algorithms).

A biometrics authentication system can make two types of errors: a false match, in which the matcher declares a match between images from two different fingers, and a false non-match, in which it does not identify images from the same finger as a match. A system’s false match rate (FMR) and false non-match rate (FNMR) depend on the operating threshold; a large threshold score leads to a small FMR at the expense of a high FNMR. For a given biometrics system, it is not possible to reduce both these errors simultaneously.

Cost - The cost of deploying a biometric system is often estimated from its direct and indirect components. The direct component includes hardware components (sensor, processor, memory) and the software modules (GUI and matcher). The sensor should be low cost and it should be easy to embed it in the existing security infrastructure. There are multifaceted components that constitute the indirect cost in the usage of biometric system. These include system installation, training/maintenance requirements, and most importantly, user acceptance. In the end, return on investment or the cost-benefit analysis is critical for making a case for biometric systems in most applications.

Interoperability - As biometrics systems are being increasingly deployed in a wide range of applications, it is necessary that the system be interoperable among different biometrics technologies (sensors/algorithms/vendors). A biometric system can no longer operate under the assumption that the same sensor, same algorithms, or same operating conditions will always be available during its lifetime. The biometric system should be highly interoperable to authenticate individuals using sensors from different vendors and on varying hardware/software platforms. The system should employ usage/development/deployment of common data exchange facilities and the formats to exchange the biometric data/features between different vendors, from different geographical locations. This would significantly reduce the need for additional software development and bring all the associated advantages (cost savings and efficiency).

User Convenience - A biometrics system should be user friendly. Any perceived health or hygienic concerns with the continuous usage of biometric sensors can influence user acceptance. Hygiene as well as security has been one of the motivations for developing touchless fingerprint sensors. Some biometric modalities are easier to acquire than others and require less user cooperation during data acquisition. Human factors and ergonomic issues will continue to play a major role in widespread deployment of biometric systems in non-government applications (such as physical and logical access control).

Security - Biometric systems are vulnerable to potential security breaches from spoof and malicious attacks. These systems should therefore offer a high degree of protection to various vulnerabilities resulting from intrinsic failures and adversary attacks. One of the major system security concerns deals with biometric template security. The access protocols and the storage of biometric and other user specific data should be provided the highest level of security.
Based on the above considerations, the second generation biometric systems should be easy to use, have low cost, be easy to embed and integrate in the target security application and be robust, secure, and highly accurate in their matching performance.
Read More

Developing the Biometrics Standards

eSSL Security

Biometrics being a well-known technology, there is little tolerance for grey area – things are either a match, or they aren’t. Practically speaking that’s a best case scenario and is something the industry grows closer to every day. Identification technologies are being implemented so widely today that standardization is becoming increasingly important across the board.

Law enforcement and border control benefit from standards so they can share information. Interoperability is important here, and there are some long-established standards and industry bodies that work to ensure everyone is on the same page and that biometric systems work together. Consumer biometrics on the other hand, has been around for a while, but is really gathering momentum, and the issue of standardization is prevalent across the industry.

NIST do testing – typically of algorithms – to know the core capabilities of algorithms on biometric data. They do it for face, for fingerprint, for iris and for speaker recognition. The test is done for two reasons: One, they want to know the core capability of algorithms at processing data like that, and publish this information because it is useful. The second reason is to give quantitative support to standardization. NIST recently completed tests on iris recognition, and found that it is a stable modality, which does not deteriorate over time.

Apple’s launch of the iPhone 5S is a hot topic in the biometrics community, but without standards conformity, Apple’s new device may not have the impact the community hopes it will. Apple’s decision to include authentication with the iPhone is a good dose of rocket fuel for the industry. Though any authentication technology unsupported by standards may take years, if ever, to achieve widespread market penetration.

There are four technological developments that will lead to evolution of new generation biometrics systems;
  • Emergence of potentially new biometric traits.
  • Added value offered by soft biometrics.
  • Effective use of multiple biometric traits for large-scale human identification.
  • Technologies to ensure a high degree of privacy, security and flexibility in the usage of biometrics systems. 
Conclusion:
The development of widely acceptable biometrics standards, practices and policies should address not only the problems relating to identity thefts but also ensure that the advantages of biometrics technologies reaches, particularly to the underprivileged segments of society who have been largely suffering from identity hacking. Based on the current biometric deployments, the security, and benefits they offer far outweigh the apparent social concerns relating to personal privacy.
Read More

Type of Industries Purchasing Door Access Control System

eSSL Security

There is an increasing need for access control systems in different industrial buildings settings and ranges of companies are finding them to be an asset. Let’s take a look at the industries that are purchasing Door Access Control products and why they would benefit from the devices.

22% of the sales are at Office Buildings:
I assumed that government facilities had the most uses for secure door settings. Considering more office building are located around the city than government buildings it is not a surprise that this setting would hold the largest amount of access control units. Different offices have different door and security needs. We have seen an increase of offices using the same devices networked together to work as both door access points and as time + attendance. In an office especially, being able to control time waste and create easy reporting is most important. Securing customer data is essential and keeping record of who had access to filing rooms is a common practice these days.

14% are in Industrial Manufacturing:
Food facilities, water bottling companies, and computer and electronic manufacturing all have common uses for secure door access control. These facilities are able to provide access to particular areas of the operations to only specified employees with proper credentials. Old fashioned keys are just too easy to lose, copy, or pick. When a company has hundreds to thousands of employees to provide security for and products to provide proper security from, access control devices are key.

11% in Hospitals/ Schools/ Universities:
We have absolutely seen an increase in biometric access control interest from hospitals, schools (day-cares), and universities. The uses range from just securing filing closets, accounting servers, and office to providing easy access to certain areas for certain employees, or parents. Physicians and technicians are given access to laboratories but restricted from hospitals filing areas. With door access devices students are not able to gain access to faculty areas without a proper card, pin code, or administered fingerprint.

9% Government:
Government buildings and office have many restrictions. It would be absurd if they were not using networked access control systems to control who has access to which secured areas. When the devices are networked the ease of creating restrictions per person, per door access control point saves time and resources for administrators. We have seen small and large government facilities using the door access control for a range of security reasons.
Read More

A Brief Insight into Biometrics’ History

eSSL Security

The term “Biometrics” is derived from the Greek words “bio” (life) and “metrics” (to measure). Automated Biometric systems have only become available over the last few decades, due to significant advances in the field of computer processing. Many of these new automated techniques, however, are based on ideas that were originally conceived hundreds, even thousands of years ago.

One of the oldest and most basic examples of a characteristic that is used for recognition by humans is the face. Since the beginning of civilization, humans have used faces to identify known (familiar) and unknown (unfamiliar) individuals. The concept of human-to-human recognition is also seen in behavioral-predominant biometrics such as speaker and gait recognition.

Other characteristics have also been used throughout the history of civilization as a more formal means of recognition. Some examples are:
  • In a cave estimated to be at least 31,000 years old, the walls are adorned with paintings which are surrounded by numerous handprints that are felt to “have acted as an unforgettable signature” of its originator.
  • There is also evidence that fingerprints were used as a person’s mark as early as 500 B.C. The business transactions in Babylon were recorded in clay tablets that include fingerprints.
  • Joao de Barros, a Spanish explorer and writer, wrote that early Chinese merchants used fingerprints to settle business transactions. Chinese parents also used fingerprints and footprints to differentiate children from one another.
  • In early Egyptian history, traders were identified by their physical descriptors to differentiate between trusted traders of known reputation and previous successful transactions, and those new to the market.
By the mid-1800s, with the rapid growth of cities due to the industrial revolution and more productive farming, there was a formally recognized need to identify people. Merchants and authorities were faced with increasingly larger and more mobile populations and could no longer rely solely on their own experiences and local knowledge. Influenced by the writings of Jeremy Bentham and other Utilitarian thinkers, the courts of this period began to codify concepts of justice that endure with us to this day.

Most notably, justice systems sought to treat first time offenders more leniently and repeat offenders more harshly. This created a need for a formal system that recorded offenses along with measured identity traits of the offender. The first of two approaches was the Bertillon system of measuring various body dimensions, which originated in France. These measurements were written on cards that could be sorted by height, arm length or any other parameter. This field was called anthropometries.

The other approach was the formal use of fingerprints by police departments. This process emerged in South America, Asia, and Europe. By the late 1800s a method was developed to index fingerprints that provided the ability to retrieve records as Bertillon’s method did but that was based on a more individualized metric- fingerprint patterns and ridges. The first such robust system for indexing fingerprints was developed in India by Azizul Haque for Edward Henry, Inspector General of Police, Bengal, India. This system, called the Henry System, and variations on it are still in use for classifying fingerprints.

True biometric systems began to emerge in the latter half of the twentieth century, coinciding with the emergence of computer systems. The nascent field experienced an explosion of activity in the 1990s and began to surface in everyday applications in the early 2000s.

The advent of the 21st century saw emerge of advance and faster computer processing and new Hi-Tech automated techniques. Thus biometric functions like Face Recognition and Iris Recognition techniques came into regular practice. But whatsoever Fingerprint still remains the most popular and widely used biometric function till date.
Read More

Video Surveillance for Trains and Subway Stations

eSSL Security

In recent years, public transit security concerns have increased significantly. The threat of terrorist activity has always been present, but it is a larger issue today than ever before. In train and subway stations, video surveillance systems can help to prevent such acts. Additionally, security cameras can deter crime and vandalism within stations, and provide riders with an added sense of security.

Benefits of CCTV Cameras in Train and Subway Stations:

Combat terrorism – Public modes of transportation are considered high-risk targets for terrorism. Surveillance cameras positioned in train and subway stations assist in the fight against such activity, and work to spot terrorist plots before they happen.

Crime investigation – Video surveillance footage can prove extremely useful in investigating incidents where a crime or terrorist act is carried out. By analyzing recorded footage, security officials can identify suspects and examine what steps need to be taken to prevent future acts from occurring.

Protect riders – It's important for riders to have confidence that the train system is safe. Many subway users are daily commuters. For them, riding the rails should be as worry-free as brushing one's teeth. Security cameras are a key part of a larger effort to provide users with a system that is safe and closely monitored for their protection.

Prevent graffiti – There's something about subway stations that brings graffiti artists out in force. For some, tunnel walls and train cars provide the ultimate canvas. When surveillance cameras spot such activity, officers can be quickly deployed to break things up before a full-blown mural comes to fruition. Cleaning up graffiti is an expensive task, and video surveillance helps in reducing the frequency of such activity.

Monitor unsafe areas – We've all heard the term, “Mind the Gap.” Many subway and train stations have sections that could prove dangerous, such as platform gaps, and any public area where there train passes by. With security cameras installed specifically to monitor such areas, accidents and injuries can be avoided.

Smart camera functionality – Intelligent IP Cameras often feature built-in video analytics such as behavioral and facial recognition. Installed in a subway or train station, such cameras can help to identify potential threats and spot suspicious activity such as objects left unattended.

Digital storage – With a digital surveillance system, footage is stored digitally rather than on bulky analog cassettes. This allows for advanced search features that help in scouring archived material for images of specific incidents. Remote access – IP surveillance systems allows for remote monitoring from any computer with network access and an internet connection.

Remote access – IP surveillance systems allows for remote monitoring from any computer with network access and an internet connection.
Read More

Why Integrated Solutions?

eSSL Security

Today’s security picture is changing rapidly. Risks are increasing and new threats are emerging. Securing property, data, employees and customers is very critical to the success of your business, regardless of the industry you’re in.

Traditional security systems comprise a set of separate processes, procedures and equipment aimed at guarding employees, visitors and facilities. This approach is no longer viable. It’s too cumbersome and costly. Each system requires its own hardware, software, installation, oversight, service, maintenance, administration and training.

Today’s security challenges require solutions that are all inclusive, seamless and unobtrusive. Integrating all your available security applications creates a more secure and responsive environment. This provides single-seat control of your entire security landscape, whether you are responsible for one or multiple facilities. Integrated security systems also reduce installation, training, maintenance and manned guarding costs.
In this age of heightened security concerns, you need a partner who understands your daily challenges. Create one of the most intelligent, responsive security systems by investing in integrated security solutions by eSSL.

eSSL’s TotalAccess Integrated Solution allows an organization to monitor, control and secure its premises like never before. The following are the wide range of components; eSSL efficiently integrates to provide maximum security to your business.
There’s no question that IP convergence is a revolutionizing trend in business. As security systems converge with IP networks, eSSL offers single platform solutions where access control, video security, intrusion detection, photo badging, alarms, motion and smoke control are components that work together within a greater system. This level of convergence creates scalable and easy-to-use solutions that deliver what you want most- flexibility, reliability and peace of mind.

Count on eSSL for a comprehensive physical and logical security solution that includes risk analysis and design, full system integration, and industry leading technologies. Protect your assets with eSSL integrated systems. Let us help you develop one of the most advanced and flexible security solution possible based on industry best practices that is agile enough to respond to the security needs of today and tomorrow.
Read More

Importance of Video Surveillance






 
The need for using CCTV cameras in business sites is crucial these days. A business without surveillance cameras can be an easy target for criminals. Installing video surveillance at your business will reduce theft, violence, workplace accidents, and other criminal activity. Not just to secure your business from thieves, these security cameras can also provide valuable feedback about your employee behaviors.

Video surveillance allows employers to monitor if employees are following company safety rules, or any job negligence. This creates awareness among employees to perform jobs accordingly knowing that all actions are being recorded on camera and hence employers can ensure increased performance and productivity of employees through the use of video surveillance without needing to hire additional personnel.

Having security cameras around can also assist your employees feel secure when they know that their behaviors are being monitored and it will reduce the chances of being unfairly accused of stealing, bullying, harassing and using drugs in the workplace. Video surveillance protects employees indirectly by monitoring each visitor who comes into the building and keeps a video record of suspicious activity.
Read More

Total Integrated Solution

Read More
Location: 2nd Phase, J P Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

How Does an IP Camera Work?

eSSL Security

The IP Camera or Network Camera is an all-in-one system with built-in CPU and web-based solutions providing a low cost solution that can transmit high quality video images for monitoring. The system can be managed remotely, accessed and controlled from any computer over the Intranet or Internet via a web browser.

Instead of transmitting video over a video cable to a monitor or DVR, an IP Camera transmits digital video over a data connection; Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi, etc. Everything required to transfer images over the network is built into the unit. It is connected directly to the network, just like any other network device, like a printer or scanner. Depending on what type of camera it is, it may save video to an attached memory source, connect to another device on the network for storage, or stream captured video to the internet.

An internet camera captures images the same way any digital camera does. What makes it different is its ability to compress the files and transmit them over a network. If a building is equipped with a network, the necessary infrastructure is already in place to install network cameras. If adding one or a few cameras, a user may use a decentralized network camera, one that has its own control interface and storage medium built in. When installing multiple network cameras it can be wise to use a centralized network camera, which requires a Network Video Recorder (NVR).

An NVR is a program that can store video from network cameras and allow for viewing of multiple cameras at once. It is similar to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), but while a traditional DVR is responsible for encoding and processing video from component cameras, NVR depends on the cameras to encode their video, simply storing it and allowing for centralized remote viewing. NVR software can be installed on a dedicated device with its own operating system or on an existing computer. There are hybrid systems available that can accept both IP and analog inputs. These will often allow analog cameras to be viewed remotely along with any network cameras.

There are 3 types of networks in common use for IP Camera applications:
  • Wired networks will connect to a broadband modem or router through Ethernet cables (RJ45, CAT5, and CAT6). These are the fastest and most secure way to connect, removing the chance of signal interception and interference.
  • Wireless networks use a Wi-Fi router to transmit data to and from a wired modem. They transmit data at a slower rate than a wired network, and are at increased vulnerability to unauthorized access, though this can be mitigated through the use of encryption. The decreased security is balanced by the ease of setup and customization of a wireless network.
  • Cellular network access tends to be the slowest of the three, but is more secure than Wi-Fi. If the cameras themselves are equipped with cellular transmitters, they don't even require a LAN to be in place, so there's virtually no installation required. These types of cameras, however, can be quite expensive, especially when transmitting high quality video.
Conclusion:

A network camera has its own IP address. It is connected to the network and has a built-in web server, FTP server, FTP client, e-mail client, alarm management, programmability, and much more options. A network camera does not need to be connected to a computer; it operates independently and can be placed wherever there is an IP network connection.
Read More

Benefits of Access Control at Your Club House


Private communities with resident club houses, private gyms, and pools are finding that there are benefits of Access Control at the facilities. Uses for Access Control can go way beyond time and attendance. These superior door devices provide the ability to control when certain people have access to a facility without needing a person there to check their membership status. Safety concerns of uninvited guests or destruction to expensive equipment diminishes when the use of a fingerprint or card is required to enter specific areas. Residents and members to the areas are more comfortable knowing that the person whom they are swimming or working out next to is allowed to be there.

Fitness centers and gyms find door Access Control to be an asset to the areas. The rooms are secured from those without access and members that have access can easily use the facilities with a fingerprint or card. Residents with pool areas are finding that intruders risk the security and comfort of members. Using Access Control on pool gates restricts who has access without jeopardizing valuable time of staff and residents. Access can be restricted to certain days and times.

One of the most popular uses for Access Control is to secure club houses. Management can apply a member’s access to the club house after hours for rented parties on certain days and times. Residents would not need a manger to be present to set up for an event.

The rise of community facilities needing to add and delete users easily has given door access control products more recognition. The benefits of Access Control at your club house or pool is endless. Residents can be easily given access to one door or many with just the click of a couple buttons from a desktop. Administrators and owners can easily deny members accesses that have not paid their dues.
Read More

Video Surveillance In Parking Lots


Parking lots can benefit greatly from the security provided by Video Surveillance. Did you know that 80% of crimes at offices, malls and other retail outlets take place in the parking lot? Parking lots have unique security needs – with risks for both owner and customer. A comprehensive video security system can help protect both your property and your customers, helping your business remain competitive and your customers satisfied.

Benefits of Installing CCTV in Parking Garage:

Prevent theft – Many thieves see parking lots as potential gold mines – miles and miles of cars or personal property that they can take. Visible security cameras can help deter thieves from breaking into cars on your lot, and can help aid law enforcement in identifying criminals who do rob cars on your lot. Cameras can also help prevent theft of store property – shopping carts, outdoor displays, tables and chairs, landscaping, etc.

Improve image – Customers are undoubtedly the most essential aspect of many businesses. Keeping your customers happy and giving them a sense of safety and peace of mind when they're shopping at your business establishes a sense of trust and loyalty.

Liability issues – It's inevitable that an accident will happen in your parking lot. Whether it's a car crash, a slip, or an errant shopping cart denting cars, video surveillance is an easy way to avoid costly liability cases.

Remote monitoring – Advances in security camera technology have made it easy to check up on your parking lot security cameras at any time of day, from anywhere in the world. A system of IP Cameras managed by a NVR (Network DVR or Network Video Recorder) transmits your footage over the internet so you're never far away. This technology gives you the power to act quickly on security issues from anywhere.
Read More

Access Control System for Offices

eSSL Security

Electronic Access Control Systems are an essential part of the security system in offices. The scope of the system can be extended to include; Time and Attendance, Visitor Management and Parking Management. Using a single integrated system for several applications can reduce both the initial outlay and the running costs.

Apart from regular members of staff who are present on a daily basis, depending upon the nature of its business, an office is likely to receive visitors, temporary staff, field staff, etc. Although they are not there on a regular basis they can potentially blend in with office workers. It is important to keep track of who is in the office building and to ensure that unauthorized people are not able to gain access to valuables and sensitive information. Access control systems are all designed to allow access only to people with the necessary authority.

How can Access Control be Implemented?
Access control systems can range from simple inexpensive systems for small office applications to fully integrated systems incorporating many additional features and benefits.

Standalone Systems- If the office building is relatively small and you simply need to allow access only to people with the necessary authority to specific areas of the building, you can fit standalone access control systems to one or more doors and issue pass cards to authorized staff members. Although each door will be protected by a separate access control system, it is possible to program individual pass cards to allow access through two or more doors as necessary.

 The advantages of using standalone access control over a lock and key system are:
  • Lost pass cards can be disabled without a need to replace the locking system.
  • A single pass card can be programmed to access several areas on a per user basis.
  • Pass cards can’t be easily copied.
Networked PC-Based Systems (Multi-door Systems)- If you invest in a PC-based access control system, you open up the opportunity to add many additional functions to the basic door control features provided by a standalone system. Networking the system involves connecting each door controller to a standard computer network access point and connecting the host PC to the same network.

The additional benefits of using a PC-based access control system in an office building are:
  • If all personnel have pass cards and their use is strictly controlled, an evacuation mustering system can be incorporated.
  • A time and attendance system can be provided.
  • A visitor management system can be provided by the system by issuing temporary, limited access cards to visitors.
  • Vehicular access to the site and the use of the parking facilities can be managed by the same system.
Read More

Use of Access Control System in Hospitals

eSSL Security

Electronic Access Control Systems are increasingly being used to enhance safety and security in hospitals and residential care homes. The scope of the system can be extended to include; Time and Attendance, Visitor Management and Parking Management. An integrated system can reduce both the initial outlay and the running costs.

Why is Access Control required in Healthcare Sector?

Hospitals and residential care homes generally have to deal with a large number of people as well as permanent members of staff. These include temporary staff, patients and visitors. With such a transient population and potentially venerable individuals, the security of valuables, patients and confidential information needs to be of the highest priority. An Access Control provides an effective time and attendance system. Also temporary, limited access cards can be issued to visitors.

In these establishments, many high value goods such as computers and sophisticated medical equipment need to be kept on the premises. The personal possessions of staff and patients also need to be protected. Confidential documents such as patients' notes also need to be kept secure as do medications. An Access Control System makes reporting of any incidents easier by providing evidence of who was in the area at the time of the incidence. Vehicular access to the site and the use of the parking facilities can be managed by the same system.

 Consequently, Access Control Systems are needed enhance safety and security to restrict access (both entry and exit) to only to those people with the necessary authority. The system can monitor the numbers of specific categories of staff present within a controlled area to ensure that the required numbers of key staff members are maintained within the area by raising an alarm whenever this number falls below the required minimum level.
Read More

Why you should Install IP Camera?

eSSL Security

The Digital, Network Surveillance System (IP Cameras) provides a host of benefits and advanced functionalities that cannot be provided by an Analog Video Surveillance System. The advantages include superior image quality, remote accessibility, easy installation and integration, and better scalability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness:

Superior image quality- Superior image quality enables the user to more closely follow details and changes in images, making way for better and faster decisions to more effectively safeguard people and property. It also ensures greater accuracy for automated analysis and alarm tools.

Remote accessibility- With network camera, users can access real-time images and video at any time from any authorized computer anywhere. The IP camera can be managed remotely, accessed and controlled from any computer over the Intranet or Internet via a web browser.

Easy installation- An IP surveillance system is fast and easy to install. Just one network cable to transmit video/audio/control data, no video cable and RS-485 cable will be required. Digital pan/tilt/zoom, remote zoom and remote focus enable convenient adjustment of the camera’s angle of view and focus over the network from a computer. The installer can mount the camera in the most effective way for the situation at hand.

Easy integration- There is almost no limitations as to where an IP camera product can be placed. IP camera has the capacity to provide a high level of integration with other equipment and functions, making it a continually developing system. A fully integrated network camera system can be used for a multitude of applications simultaneously: for instance, access control, building management, point-of-sales systems, ATMs, as well as fire alarms, intruder and visitor management.

Scalability and flexibility- A network camera system can grow with a user’s needs; one camera at a time. IP-based systems provide a means for network video products and other types of applications to share the same wired or wireless network for communicating data. Video, audio, PTZ and I/O commands, power and other data can be carried over the same cable and any number of network camera products can be added to the system without significant or costly changes to the network infrastructure.

These products can also be placed and networked from virtually any location, and the system can be as open or as closed as desired. Since a network video system is based on standard IT equipment and protocols, it can benefit from those technologies as the system grows. For instance, video can be stored on redundant servers placed in separate locations to increase reliability, and tools for automatic load sharing, network management and system maintenance can be used.

Cost effectiveness- You can often take advantage of existing network wiring. This can make the installation task much easier. Don't need any DVR or Coaxial cable now. Using standard PC server hardware rather than proprietary equipment such as DVRs radically reduces management and equipment costs, particularly for larger systems where storage and servers are a significant portion of the total solution cost. 
Read More

© Copyright 2015 eSSL | Security At Fingertips