Are there any access control and/or surveillance system pros here?

F

fastline

Senior Member
Location
midwest usa
Occupation
Engineer
I am working through a complete audit of an industrial building in which the access control system and surveillance system need to be upgraded. I am tasked with guiding this process. I am trying to learn more about certain on-prem and cloud based access systems but finding it very hard to get much info on specific equipment, or even know what all is out there. I was trying to narrow the field in terms of what is desired and which systems would be of interest. Seems most security installers just recommend what they are a dealer for, and I am trying to learn in a broader sense.
 
I use AXIS for both CCTV and Card Access. One "pane of glass" for both systems. They also have IP speaker/PA/Paging systems. IMO, Axis is truly interoperable with other systems. Many of the other manufactures claim to be interoperable but they are not or they require lots of middleware to make them work with other systems.
 
CurrentFlow said:
I use AXIS for both CCTV and Card Access. One "pane of glass" for both systems. They also have IP speaker/PA/Paging systems. IMO, Axis is truly interoperable with other systems. Many of the other manufactures claim to be interoperable but they are not or they require lots of middleware to make them work with other systems.
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That is great to hear! I think I have walked 10mi just since I posted. I found that cloud based access systems are monthly fee based so owners will never agree to that. Another is precisely what you mention, the integration of systems. It seems shocking that more don't offer a 'total solution' for common security needs.

It is interesting you mention the IP speaker systems because that is EXACTLY where I am headed. There are known crime problems in the area and cameras do NOT stop crime, they just document it happening, so the cops can do.....nothing. Prevention is on the menu.

But to throw a wrench, we all know bad things happen at night, away from the facility, so having a way to monitor on a phone is key! Bottom line, they want to be able to talk to someone over the PA system on their phone, 100mi away! Maybe even fire all missiles when commanded, via I/O.

Our IT specialist is looking into possible 'build from scratch' solutions, but if the system is networked, there has to be options.
 
Axis has analytics that can generate alarms or human voice messages etc over the speakers. The speakers can also be part of a paging system, provide background music etc. The speakers and cameras are all PoE. Axis has lots of I/O options.
 
Another couple of good options are Genetec and Lenel. I've used both -- Genetec for CCTV and Lenel for access control. Both of those are also NDAA-compliant.
 
Good stuff guys! @egnlsn, I will look into those. On Axis, it was looking good but found they have massive subscription fees and I was already scolded that this sort of tech will not be used. They are willing to give up some functionality to avoid the constant fee schedules. The place is really not a high risk place. I don't have "hacking" concerns, I have "climb the fence and use hammers" concerns.
 
I would never consider a cloud based access control...if your link to the cloud is lost you have no access. That happened to one of the major tech companies a couple of years ago...they ended up using physical force to get into the building
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
I would never consider a cloud based access control...if your link to the cloud is lost you have no access. That happened to one of the major tech companies a couple of years ago...they ended up using physical force to get into the building
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I think it is a movement towards keeping everything you hold dear for ransom. Many go down that path.
 
Another route to go could be Hikvision. While I don't know anything about their access control systems, I do love their CCTV.
 
fastline said:
I think it is a movement towards keeping everything you hold dear for ransom. Many go down that path.
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Yes and no?

I understand the model from a business perspective, as well as a technical one. I think the better approach than cloud-hosting is dedicated appliances, rather than a general-purpose computer running proprietary software. I interviewed with the guy who founded Barracuda Networks because he was doing a startup for a different security product. I didn't get the job, but that's what he was planning to do - a security appliance.

Technically, the problem is growing product complexity which comes with growing cost of self-hosting. Cloud-hosting allows the edge devices to just be dumb as dirt and the service to evolve as needed without a need for high-paid computer peeps running everything.
 
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