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The Light at the End of the Tunnel and Access Control is More Essential than Ever

It was a year of challenges, isolation, and changes. The very fabric of business was altered. The need for security had been growing over the last few years, but when COVID hit, access control became more important.  Since many people were working from home, empty office spaces needed to be protected. Visitors needed to be monitored, and temperature screening became essential.  Now that we see the light at the end of the tunnel, we realize that many of the access control technologies used last year will be with us in the future.

This article describes how the world changed during the Pandemic and how many things have been altered forever. 

 IP Camera Selection Guide for Your Surveillance System

There are many IP cameras available. Some are very inexpensive, while others cost a lot. Why the price difference? It mainly depends on the performance and quality.  The first thing to consider is what you want to accomplish, and then use the following guide to select the right IP camera.

This article describes what IP camera to consider for each type of application. It suggests cameras from the top-rated brand’s Axis and Hanwha. There are less expensive brands such as Hikvision and Dahua, but they are on the US restricted list of Chinese cameras.

The Best IP Camera Systems

An IP Camera System is a set of cameras and software that provide video surveillance. IP camera systems usually include many IP cameras that are selected depending on what areas they need to view. These network-attached cameras can be dome, bullet, PTZ, or panoramic IP cameras. The system also includes a video recording system such as video management software (VMS) or Network Video Recorders (NVR). All the components connect to the local area network.

This article provides information to help you select the right IP camera system.

Review of Audio and Video Intercoms

There are a variety of network-attached intercoms. Some connect to a central computer, while others connect to smartphone apps. The new IP intercoms use your network infrastructure, are powered over Ethernet (PoE), include IP cameras, and have great features and functions that were never available with the old analog intercoms. They can open doors, integrate with IP camera systems and door access control systems to provide a complete security system.

In general, IP intercoms consist of an audio amplifier, microphone, I/O connections, a special-purpose computer, and an interface to the network. This article reviews the different models of IP intercoms and how they can be used.

Access Control systems allow registered people to enter a specific door at a pre-determined schedule.

Visitor management systems control people who are not registered. Together they provide increased safety and security.

The combination of access control, temperature scanning, contact tracing, and access to control databases has increased security and health. This article reviews the new technology advances in visitor management and the integration of door access control and other technologies.

Pan, Tilt Zoom Cameras Provide Increased Capability

We have come a long way since the first pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) cameras. The first PTZ cameras were relatively primitive. These early cameras shared the technology with television cameras and used vidicon vacuum tubes and other analog components to capture the video.

This article describes the evolution of the PTZ cameras from coax connected analog cameras to network-attached digital cameras with much greater capability.

IP Apartment Intercoms Review

The latest IP apartment intercoms use wireless networks to communicate with the tenant. The new wireless multi-tenant intercoms allow you to contact the resident’s smartphone or standard phone to request entry into the building. The lobby intercom touchscreen display provides a list of all the tenants in the building.

This article provides critical features and functions of the best apartment intercom systems.