Standardised Security
Published: 23 November, 2010
Siemens has long been a leading supplier of security equipment, but in a significant change of direction it is now looking to position itself not just as a supplier of technology, but a supplier of solutions.
Portfolio development manager Gert Rohrmann explains: “It’s all part of a transformation from a hardware-driven organisation to a software-driven organisation.”
This means that while the company will still supply security equipment, it is more interested in providing the suite of software and systems that manage the information gathered by that equipment.
This is in part a recognition that, in mature markets like the UK, the security infrastructure has already been installed. From now on the value is going to be in making that infrastructure work more efficiently, rather than supplying new kit.
Under the banner of Siveillance, Siemans has developed a package of industry-leading software suites that guide control room operators in how to interpret the images that pass across their screens, and then in how to react when they detect something of importance.
“The guys at the front end have to be able to handle information quickly,” says Rohrmann. “The decision-making process is rule-based and that gives the controller the tools to fix the problem quickly and efficiently.”
Perhaps the most radical change is that an operator will have no more than three screens to look at. What appears on the screens is decided by the Siveillance software, which can detect unattended bags, or cars parked in unexpected places, and bring them to the attention of the operator.
"The video camera never blinks. But control room operators do,” is how Frank Pederson, CEO of Siemens’ global security solutions division puts it.
And Pederson points out that one of the revolutionary aspects of this approach is that the Siveillance system works with any supplier’s equipment. “At Siemens we believe in standardisation – the whole system is based on open standards,” Pederson says. And he points out that Siemens is still the only security supplier to have signed up to ONMIF – the Open Network Media Interface – which allows equipment from different suppliers to work together.
“We don’t believe that if you want to change some of the cameras on your system you should be forced to go back to the original supplier,” Pederson says.
The security solutions business at Siemens has over 5,000 customer sites in the UK including pioneering projects such as the London Borough of Bexley, the first public authority to outsource the entire design, build, staff management and operation of all CCTV services.
The team also enjoyed an exceptional success rate in preventing, detecting and clearing up crime in Liverpool using a city wide CCTV system.
But it’s not just a more efficient controlroom that Siveillance promises to deliver. According to Dave Pickles, UK managing director of Siemens Building Technologies Security Solutions, there are real cost benefits to be had as well.
“The launch of the Siveillance portfolio is particularly timely for the UK,” he says. “The private sector has to operate with leaner budgets. The great challenge is for public institutions, critical infrastructure and corporate business to lower costs whilst reducing risk and improving operations and security. A technological step change is needed to enable all sectors to meet both current and future security challenges, as well as maximise their investment in technology.”
