Security Technology Executive

JUL-AUG 2015

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18 SECURITY TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE • July/August 2015 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com PUBLIC SAFETY stakeholders and private technology providers. Serving a population of approximately 4.4 million in an area that encompasses nearly 126 square miles, Surat city officials invested in the Safe City project to ensure the ongoing security of the area, while continuing to make it an attractive locale for business. Phase one of the project consisted of the specification and installation of more than 100 video surveillance cameras, which are used to monitor major traffic areas along critical entry and exit points in and around the city. Upcom- ing phases call for extending the video coverage within the city and increasing the number of surveillance locations to more than 5,000 by the project's completion. Ensuring Collaboration Another specific challenge to public-private partnerships is how data from multiple sourc- es and disparate devices can be presented in a unified format to enable operators to gain the most relevant and critical information. Security management software platforms, also known as situation management solutions, are valuable tools in addressing this challenge. These plat- forms can seamlessly tie multiple data sources together to present information in one unified interface, allowing operators to quickly iden- tify situations and determine the appropriate response. This process transforms raw data into actionable intelligence. Comprehensive technology solutions such as IP-based surveillance systems, video manage- ment software and situational awareness soft- ware provide easier and timelier access to data. The end result: greater situational awareness and stronger protection. For example, by integrat- ing video content and social media through the use of communications and cyber intelligence, municipalities can proac- tively identify threats even before they occur — or perhaps, respond to and resolve incidents before they occur. The growth in informa- tion technology and social media has presented new opportunities for public- private partnerships. Law enforcement and govern- ment agencies can use c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d c yber intelligence solu- tions to intercept, monitor and analyze communica- tions to build the evidence needed to neutralize ter- rorism and crime. These solutions readily handle vast amounts of data from a number of different sources and provide the tools needed to integrate and analyze information from them. Efficient col- laboration between various agencies generates better evidence and promotes more efficient, pro- ductive investigations. To minimize risks, increase compliance, ensure consistent operations and enhance security, it is paramount that leaders from the private sector and cities collaborate to achieve common pub- lic safety goals. Many cities across the world face budget restrictions, but can gain access to new resources by partnering with the local business community. These complex and beneficial rela- tionships are not a quick fix to a city's challenges. In fact, such initiatives take a significant amount of time and effort to bring all the necessary stakeholders to the table. The first step is starting the conversation. ■ About the Author: Kevin Wine is Vice President, Marketing, Video & Situation Intelligence Solutions at Verint Systems Inc. Note: Join Verint's Jan Petrenko, head of the Energy and Transportation Group, as he moderates a session entitled, "Today's Secure, Urban City: It Takes a Village" at the Secured Cities conference sponsored by Security Technology Executive and SecurityInfoWatch.com in Houston on November 10-12. This panel discussion is slated for Thursday, November 12 from 9:00 to 9:50 am. For more details on the conference program, go to http:// securedcities.com/thursday.php. The ability to share critical data between public and private sectors helps drive new levels of safety and security. While it is certainly not a new phenomenon, public-private partnerships are growing in adoption — not just across North America but across the world. Photo Courtesy of Verint Systems

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