If you are considering the installation of an access control system to protect your facility, you will find that there are many different types of systems available. You will find everything from manual keypads that control regular locks all the way up to card readers connected to database-driven systems run from servers. So, what features are […]
Security
Notify Me!
We are quickly entering a world of smart devices that can stay in touch with us remotely. This gives us the ability to monitor and manage our environment on a real-time basis. Since many of us are now carrying small computers with us in the form of smartphones, the increased technological horsepower and always-on connectivity […]
Video in the Cloud
Cloud has become quite the buzzword when it comes to applications. Let’s do this in the cloud; let’s do that in the cloud. There have been some real success stories when it comes to hosted applications which are those applications that reside in the cloud. Salesforce.com is one that immediately comes to mind. But, not […]
Are Your Doors Propped Open?
When it comes to deploying a card access control system, one of the main functions is to secure specific entrances and to only allow certain authorized users to enter. One of the quickest ways to defeat the security provided by an access control system is for someone to prop a door open. So, what is […]
Control Your Thermostat from Anywhere
The last few mornings have been a bit chilly here in metro Atlanta. This got me thinking about the great flexibility we have with the security and automation products that are now available to us. Did you know that there are thermostats that can be managed remotely over the Internet with services like Total Connect? […]
Take Care of Your Security Systems
Welcome to 2013! Since we have entered a new year, it is a good time to evaluate your plans for maintaining your security systems. As with any electronic systems, security systems need care and attention to stay in good working order. Here are some questions you should answer as you think about your systems: When […]
Monitoring For More Than Security
When most people think of security system monitoring, they think of monitoring of door and window sensors and motion detectors for intrusion detection. But, monitoring can be used for so much more. There are a variety of sensors available to monitor different types of environmental conditions. There are water sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, heat […]
9 Billion Dollars Lost to Return Fraud Every Year
Wow, the National Retail Federation reported that 9 billion dollars are lost to return fraud every year by retailers. What is return fraud? According to a recent article in the online version of USA Today, return fraud is defined as “a crime where people exchange stolen goods for cash, use counterfeit receipts or bring back […]
Unlock Doors with a Smartphone?
There is a new technology that is slowly making its way into the world of traditional door access control. The technology is called Near Field Communication or NFC. Some newer smartphones are built with NFC chips inside of them which will allow those phones to control devices just by holding the phone near a NFC reader. […]
City of Atlanta to Add Surveillance Cameras
As reported this week by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), the City Council for the City of Atlanta voted to spend $2.25 million to expand its video surveillance presence in the city. City of Atlanta officials are pointing to the existing video surveillance infrastructure as one reason that crime in some categories has been reduced. According […]