Veracity joined forces with SMT to launch an industry forum to discuss specific issues in the security sector.  Veracity and SMT invited representatives from a group of key industry players including 2020 Vision, Arecont Vision, Axis, Codestuff, Instek Digital, Raytec and Syac, plus observers from BSIA and Frost & Sullivan.

The topic for the initial event was IP surveillance and focused on the speed of migration from analogue to IP, the technologies involved, HD versus megapixel and what it all means for installers and security managers

The aim of the Forum was to bring together highly articulate, opinionated and well-informed key individuals from noted industry players to generate an exchange of views and ideas on current trends in the security industry.  The Forum is intended to be a regular annual or bi-annual event, providing a platform for more formal discussion of critical industry issues, actions and solutions.  The initial focus was on the systems sector, with IP video surveillance being the key topic of discussion.

The event was split into two parts, the first chaired by Alastair McLeod (Veracity) and the second by Brian Sims (SMT).  The first part focused on the systems element of the security sector, and addressed several areas:

Alastair McLeod of Veracity UK Ltd

• what factors are driving the speed of migration from analogue to IP surveillance, most notably from the technological perspective?
• how fast is that change occurring, will we reach a tipping point and, if so, when?
• what variables are driving IP adoption in terms of business-critical issues/vertical sector penetration?
• which technologies might be commoditised and/or built-in to central management systems or cameras, and how fast?
• will - or indeed should - more and more functionality be heading towards central systems, or will it flow instead towards edge devices?
• is megapixel technology really the all-embracing 'game changer' it's billed to be by the manufacturers touting its benefits?
• is the whole 'HD versus megapixel' debate little more than a clever, promotionally-driven 'red herring' or something much more significant?
• what does all of this technological progress mean for the security manager?
• is it a very real possibility - not to say likelihood - that all physical security requirements might be managed solely by IT Departments in a few short years' time?
• are there inherent dangers afoot as we tread this new managerial path?
• with less reliance on humans and far more on systems, will the security guarding companies be forced into radically altering their business models, processes and outlook?
• will the security industry have to 'reinvent' itself if it's truly going to embrace technological change?
• what are the main barriers to change, and how will they be eroded for the common good?

The second part considered the effects of these issues on End-Users - security managers, directors, facilities managers and, to an extent, members of the police service.  Specific points addressed included :

Brian Sims of SMT

• what do end users need to do to be seen as the positive agents for change?
• what's the likely future role of the in-house security manager?
• where will tomorrow's breed of manager come from?
• what about the whole Corporate Social Responsibility agenda?
• how can new technology help end users to make a positive impact on the bottom line for the host organisation?
• the law (the Corporate Manslaughter Act, a raft of Health and Safety legislation, Sarbanes-Oxley, PRINCE2): what effect is it having?
• where can systems advancement assist in terms of business continuity and reputational risk?
• is the outsourcing of the security service a positive development?
• some of the major threats today are terrorism, fraud and the insider threat (in terms of physical and information theft)... but is the message seeping through to the Boardroom?
• what is the likely game-changer going to be in terms of technology, efficiency and the impact on the bottom line?
• should we be focusing generally or targeting specific improvements in particular sectors?