Honeywell Security, is an international player in the security sector with insight knowledge on the industry’s most talked about areas including IP migration, integration, convergence and standards.
Jeremy Kimber - Honeywell
Jeremy Kimber, Commercial Operational Marketing Leader, EMEA, Honeywell Security talks to Geny Caloisi about the old and the new co-existing in a world were technical advances as well as cost savings strategies are key ingredients for success. The security sector needs to future-proof its solutions by adopting new technologies and being aware of current regulations. Remote monitoring through IP adoption, for instance, is becoming mandatory in some countries. Also the emerging trend of mobile devices deployed as user interfaces, cannot be ignored. But one size does not fit all, so here is his overview on the current state of the market.
What are the biggest issues/trends in the security sector at the moment?
Current economic conditions have led to a slowdown in the adoption of IP technology at the mid to lower end of the security market. This slow down suggests there is still significant room for new business in the analogue space. The prevailing attitude amongst a significant number of customers is that in a period of economic ‘belt-tightening’, an analogue system, although not as ‘future proof’ as an IP equivalent, may offer a more cost effective security solution for the short to medium term. For end users and installers, adopting an analogue solution over an IP solution can also reduce the need for training, allowing them to make or offer additional cost and time savings.
Conversely, at the top end of the market we are seeing IP migration increase quickly particularly in more sophisticated integrated solutions. Significantly though, there is not an equal surge in demand for products across all elements of the IP portfolio – rather customers are going straight for the more sophisticated products. The rationale for this is that end users who are investing heavily in IP want to ensure they reap the maximum benefits by installing the best possible system at the front and back end. So, for example, they are focusing more on high definition cameras since one of the key benefits to investing in IP is improved picture quality and are looking for seamless video and access control integration as standard.
Smartphones and tablets will demand a revolution in the user interfaces currently used in security systems. Existing keypads are steadily being replaced by touch screen controls, something we’re already seeing strong demand for, with our Galaxy TouchCenter keypad. Going forward, these will increasingly be superseded by mobile applications, as customers will expect a user experience aligned to the best iPad or Android apps on the market at the time. This functionality will be as important as the quality of the system itself when it comes to securing a sale. Video applications are already prevalent on mobiles. Similarly, we also expect to see access cards replaced by smartphones in the future. With smartphones replacing other cards in a consumer’s wallet – like a bank card for example – it’s only a matter of time before access cards go the same way.
We will also continue to see end-users migrating towards cloud-based and managed service models as they become increasingly aware of the value that these services can bring through round-the-clock protection, increased reliability and trouble-free servicing. A combination of future-proofed systems that are low maintenance as a result of programming, training and software upgrades handled off-site, combined with system health checks and notification of critical system events available on demand offer increased peace of mind for the end-user. When coupled with a reduced cost of ownership we will increasingly see the tide turn to adopt this model.
What were the main trends you saw at IFSEC this year?
In this challenging environment, installers are increasingly looking to the industry’s most trusted, established providers, who can offer stability of service, and consistency of products and have the resources to weather the current economic pressure. These organisations are trusted partners of installers, integrators and specifiers, offering the training and technical support required to ease pressure on them during this tough economic period.
‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ is a cliché, but installers that have traditionally relied on just one piece of the technology mix – access control, CCTV or intruder alarms for example – are increasingly recognising the need to diversify to survive and thrive. Since integration is a huge priority for customers everywhere, the ability to provide a range of solutions that bridge a series of technologies is an important differentiator for installers. Diversifying into new areas will ultimately make these companies more robust, and manufacturers like Honeywell are happy to support the move through training and education programmes.
What are the latest technologies advances at Honeywell?
Honeywell has recently released several enhancements to its widely used WIN-PAK® integrated security platform that gives users greater ability to integrate digital video into their security systems, as well as work with a wider range of access control panels. WIN-PAK now seamlessly supports Honeywell’s NetAXS-123, NetAXS-4 and NS2 access control panels to provide full compatibility for legacy and new systems. Honeywell also recently announced the addition of six IP cameras to its existing EQUIP® IP product series. The new true day/night cameras are split into two ranges – 1080p and 720p wide dynamic – with each range incorporating three different models; an indoor only mini dome, a vandal resistant mini dome and a box camera. These support our new SE and XE 2.0 range of MaxProNVR’s which are now fully ONVIF compatible.
What are the key legislation companies need to bear in mind when dealing with their security issues?
European countries are increasingly introducing new regulations around mandatory installation of certain products. In Spain for example, for remotely monitored installations, it is now mandatory to have an alarm system that is compliant with latest EN standards. In France, the installation of standalone smoke alarms is now mandatory in homes, not just public places. This trend has boosted, and will continue to boost, the sale of certified intruder systems and integrated intruder alarms that incorporate life safety functions such as autonomous smoke sensors. Similarly, as home broadband becomes ubiquitous there is a growing appetite for IP in the residential market versus old fashioned analogue lines.
Will end-users see any changes with the introduction of the new PD6662 standard this year?
Although most of the changes in PD6662 will only be visible to manufacturers and installers, they have been introduced in order to improve the level of security for end users. The introduction of the new PD662 standard will resolve inconsistencies present in the previous implementation through clarifications such as the stipulation of tamper switches, enhancement of battery monitoring and changes to the way alarms are handled and verified (within BS8243:2010). This will result in systems that are more reliable, more capable of generating genuine alarms, much reduced false alarms and more police captures from genuine alarms. All of which is good news for end users.
First Published In June 2012 by Risk UK