Walking the Converged Security Walk

[Originally posted Feb. 21, 2012 on HID Global's corporate blog.]

Many companies talk the convergence talk, but this week at the HIMSS show you can see HID Global walking the walk.

It's been about a year since HID brought ActivIdentity into the HID Global family. And as you would see at our HIMSS booth, it's become reasonably easy to implement a credential system that allows a single card to get through the door, perform highly secure computer log-in and use a variety of other smart card-enabled products and services. The organization that provides its end-users with multiple applications on a highly secure credential quickly realizes more convenience and a lower total cost of ownership.

Truth be told, back-end/database convergence still has a ways to go; separate systems for physical and logical access with unique user records/identities sit behind the scenes. 

However, on the user experience side, product convergence is real. The case studies exist and it's becoming less necessary to evangelize these integrated solutions.

If you're going to the HIMSS healthcare IT show that kicked off today in Las Vegas, please walk on over our booth #8013, to see convergence in action. Below, I've listed some of the solutions on display.

• ActivIdentity 4TRESS Authentication Appliance for multi-layered secure log-on and cloud security capabilities, along with HID Global and ActvIdentity credentials and tokens.
• Credential management solutions such as the ActivIdentity CMS Appliance and HID Global's award-winning card management software.
• Genuine HID reader solutions such as OMNIKEY desktop readers with contact and/or contactless interface, readers to support today's mobile workforce, and "clean room" readers for enhanced data security in hygienic environments.
• Printing and encoding solutions including FARGO Direct-to-Card printers to create customized photo IDs and encode smart cards.
• Solutions that expand the use of Genuine HID Technology to create solutions for the healthcare market from HID Connect partners.

Best regards,
--Scott Howell
scotthowell949@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/scotthowell

You can (virtually) be a part of ASIS this week

[Originally posted Sept. 19, 2011 on HID Global's corporate blog.]

Even if you can't travel to the big security show in Orlando over the next few days, you can keep up with HID Global and the rest of your favorite companies using Twitter and other online tools.

Twitter

If you don't yet use Twitter as a news source, let me assure you it is easy to use. And you can get familiar with this important information tool without ever posting a tweet yourself by simply reading the tweets of others. Here's how:

1. First, sign up for a free account at twitter.com.
2. Then do a search for #ASIS11. The pound or number sign is a hashtag that makes it easy to search by subject. Be sure to use the "Search" box, not the "What's happening" box.
3. Save the search and bookmark the page.
4. Then scan the new tweets a couple of times a day. It's a great way to keep abreast of the show's happenings and product announcements during the event.

Search now for ASIS 2011 news on Twitter. You'll see there is a lot of variety in terms of subject matter.

Some tweets are of the research or educational nature. Many tweets are reflections of what other people found of interest. And other tweets are straight forward promotions that suppliers use help direct show attendees to their booth.

Beyond the Tweet

Other ways to keep up on the ASIS event and the industry from afar:

• Peruse the blogs and other show-specific coverage. Bookmark your favorite consultants, analysts, vendors and media companies (often, magazine websites are good). Here are a couple of examples:
Security Magazine
Security InfoWatch

• Download the free ASIS Mobile app (for the iPhone and Android) for a directory listing the companies exhibiting and where to find specific products.

ASIS will be a key source for industry news over the next three days, so stop by HID's booth #2400...or join us virtually!

Best regards,
Scott Howell
scotthowell949@gmail.com
twitter: @ScottHowell

Today's Technology: Another "Learn It or Be Left Behind" Choice?

[Originally published August 9, 2011 on HID Global's corporate blog.]

Back in the 2000's, security professionals were told, "You better learn about IT networking, or you're going to be left behind." As it turns out, the warning was a good one. In the current market, companies without expertise in TCP/IP, domain controllers, SQL, XML, APIs, middleware and such, risk being bested by others that "get it."

Today, security professionals are facing another "learn it, or be left behind" choice.

No longer can one get away with saying simply, "The reader reads the card and passes the card number to the controller." The technology, regulations, applications and security environment have evolved. We're reaching an inflection point where the most capable and effective security professionals need to be able to speak intelligently about topics such as encryption, PKI, mutual authentication, identity management, credential management, provisioning, digital certificates, certificate authorities, federated trust bridges, NFC and more.

So, many security professionals face a choice:

• To decide not to decide, in other words, to ignore the newer technologies, hoping they will go away (but then to struggle to see through murky waters in a few years);
• To make a conscious decision to remain the same and find and defend a niche. For instance, there were locksmiths in the 80's and 90's that chose not to learn about electronic systems, and some of them today continue to fill a market need; or,
• To choose to embrace the changes and commit to transform the skill set and business offering to address the shifting market needs. My guess is, if you're reading this blog post, you're in this latter group, and that you're already absorbing new knowledge from every conference, white paper and podcast you can find.

Personally, I find it absolutely fascinating to apply advanced technology in a never-ending battle against the bad guys. The pace of change, challenges and opportunities have never been greater. 

"Community" is what social tools like blogs are all about. So I encourage you to comment in the space below. Thanks for reading.

Best Regards,
Scott Howell
scotthowell949@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/scotthowell

The UTC Acquisition of GE Security -- the Branding One Year Later

Brand transitions don't happen overnight, and it's been one year since UTC bought General Electric's GE Security group.  At UTC's ISC West reception, UTC Fire & Security, Global Security Products President Mark Barry reviewed the group's brand positioning and took questions from the audience. 

The following text summarizes UTC's branding and positioning at the ISC West security show, some of it new, some of it simply clarified and reinforced.

From the top:  United Technologies Corporation (UTC) (NYSE: UTX) is one of the world's largest companies -- larger than Apple, Dell, Cisco, UPS and PepsiCo, just to name a few, according to the Fortune 500 rankings.  They own Carrier (HVAC), Otis (Elevators), Pratt & Whitney (aerospace) and more. Total UTC annual revenue is about $54B.  About 12% of that revenue (still a huge number) comes from the UTC Fire & Security business unit which is made up of three sub-business units: Global Security Products, Global Fire Products, and Fire & Security Services.

The Global Security Products (GSP) business unit was the one that exhibited at ISC West, so let's focus most of our attention on that BU and its four major brand groups:

New Signage in UTC's ISC West Booth

Interlogix:  Interlogix represents primarily UTC's video (UltraView, TruVision, etc.) and intrusion detection products, for both residential and small-to-medium commercial markets, as well as some networking and fire products. Interlogix products primarily move through the dealer and distributor channels.

The Interlogix brand umbrella includes the formerly-owned-by-GE residential alarm business. The UTC-GE deal gave UTC a 10-year license to use the GE name.  However, UTC has resurrected the Interlogix brand name and intends to move along the retirement of the GE branding well in advance of the ten-year deadline.  (More info on Interlogix sub-brands can be found in the following company press release.)

Lenel:  The Lenel brand will continue to represent the integrated, enterprise security management system products including OnGuard, SkyPoint, Facility Commander and Picture Perfect.  Its products primarily move through the integrator/VAR channel to commercial and government customers.

Onity:  Electronic locks, in-room safes and energy management solutions for specific verticals including hospitality and education fall under the Onity umbrella.

Supra: This brand encompasses key management systems including the modern version of a real estate agent's key lock box...still hanging off the doorknob of the for-sale home, but now opened by a smart phone instead of mechanical pushbutton.

Each of the four brands will operate as individual businesses, with dedicated product development, customer support and sales teams.

And in separate UTC branding news, UTC Fire & Security's Fire & Security Services business unit has realigned its US services businesses under the Chubb brand, all the way down to the branding on the vehicles and uniforms (press release).  And back in May of 2010, the company announced the use of Edwards as the company name for its fire detection and alarm business (press release).

In summary, within UTC Fire & Security's three business units -- Global Security Products (Interlogix, Lenel, etc.), Global Fire Products (Edwards, etc.), and Fire & Security Services (Chubb, etc.) -- we see UTC resurrecting and maintaining the brands they feel have market equity.  And they're retiring dozens of other brands, often a painful but necessary step for an acquisitive company intent on further consolidating this fragmented industry.

UTC was sporting a brand new booth at this year's ISC West show, and it offered them an opportunity to display all four GSP brands -- Interlogix, Lenel, Onity and Supra -- within the same booth footprint for the first time. Designing and building a new booth of that size costs in the neighborhood of a quarter of a million dollars, clearly indicating UTC is committed to spend money to support the rebranding initiative.

Best regards,

Scott Howell

All Tech Marketing

scotthowell949@gmail.com

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Using Twitter to (Virtually) Visit a Tradeshow

So you can't make it to the big [insert your industry] tradeshow this week...  Well, thanks to modern technology, you can visit any show from afar.  This article will show you some of the ways to keep up with tradeshow happenings and news from your office. We'll use the ISC West Exhibition & Conference as an example, but this could be done for nearly any event.

Twitter for ISC West

I'd be rich if I had a nickel for every time I've heard, "What's all the fuss about 'twitter'? I don't get it."  I'll I can say is, "Learn it!"  

In a future post here, I'll give you the no-fluff 411 on just what you need to do to quickly learn Twitter. And if you can't wait, you can go to twitter.com and enter this search string: #ISCW11 OR #ISCWEST OR "ISC West" 

Here's a selection of tweets during Day 1 of the ISC West exhibition showing the varying types of information offered up by on-site tweeters.

Some tweets are of the research or educational nature:

 

Many tweets are reflections of what other people found of interest:

 

 

 

  

Some tweets are undisguised promotions. Hey, these suppliers paid a lot to exhibit at the show, so I applaud them for investing a little extra effort to try to get people to their booth.

Here's someone using Twitter to set up appointments (the "DM" instructs readers to "direct message" the author with a meeting request). I'll check with him later to see if he got any takers.

 

And of course, for those inclined, the twitter stream can keep you up to date on who's attending what parties and events.

 

  

Twitter even enables one to reach out to the security community for a helping hand. (I bet he found someone to lend him a charger!)

Beyond the Tweet

Other ways to keep up on the ISC West show and the industry from afar:

·    Peruse the blogs and other show-specific coverage.  Bookmark your favorite media companies (often, magazine websites are good), consultants, analysts and vendors.   Two examples:  

http://www.securitymagazine.com/blogs/14

http://www.sdmmag.com/articles/topic/2680-isc-west-2011

·    Video feeds:  Tune into live and recorded video feeds from ISC West:  

http://iscwest.com/en/ISC-West/Attendee-Info/Media-Studio-Schedule/

http://www.siaonline.org/live

·    Virtual Tradeshows:  Gaining in popularity, these web-based events bring suppliers and end-users together online for product demos and education. I'm sure they'll be one scheduled soon. Previous events might be archived for review. Here's one put on by Security/SDM magazines:  http://www.isecuritytradeshow.com/

So, please join us at the show...even if it's virtually!

Best regards,

Scott Howell

All Tech Marketing

e-mail: scotthowell949@gmail.com

twitter:  @ScottHowell 

  
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