IP Surveillance - Another Piece of the Converged Network
By Larry Boettger • 06/06/04 IP surveillance, has emerged as a new leading security solution that combines networking infrastructure and video equipment to provide a more holistic and efficient approach to security. It is a logical step in the quest for completely converged networks.
Most security imperatives from an IT perspective have been focused on firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection and a host of similar components of network security. But more recently, with an increased focus on both physical and network security, IP surveillance has become a solution in the minds and desks of security officers nationwide.
IP surveillance is an attractive alternative to current methods of video surveillance for several reasons:
Easy integration into any IT infrastructure Ability to scale quickly and easily No dependence on specialized cable networks or analog electronics Increased amounts of digital images can be collected Increased efficiency over analog tape Faster audits when reviewing incidents Ability to monitor from anywhere using web technology software
It provides real-time, remote-accessible views into the organization, affording companies 24/7 security and enhanced insight into their daily operations. IMS Research said in March 2004 that network cameras and video servers are the highest growing sectors of the closed-circuit TV market.
IP surveillance case study By Eric J. Adams
The dramatic scene has been played out countless times: A police department receives an alarm from a bank or other business indicating that an armed robbery or burglary is in progress.
Typically, officers must respond blindthat is, without concrete knowledge about the situation, the number of assailants, or even the legitimacy of the alarm. The only constant is the life-threatening risk each officer takes with every response. But California's Seal Beach and Los Alamitos police departments have a powerful new tool that gives officers insight into crimes in progress, along with the potential to catch criminals and save lives.
The tool is an Internet-based, wireless, real-time video monitoring network that lets police peer, safely and securely, into an establishment via remote video cameras transmitting signals over the Internet. The IP Video Surveillance solution uses real-time video feed, which begins only when a request is made or an alarm is triggered.
The call for help can come in many formsa traditional telephone call, an automatic burglary alarm, or a panic alarmbut once that request is made, the system gives police any number of critical views as the crime is actually taking place, says Michael Sellers, Seal Beach's chief of police.
The system is carried over an Internet Protocol (IP) network created by Cisco Systems.
The largest obstacle seems to be the integration of the groups who are responsible for the business security. Traditionally, a facilities or physical security group is responsible for video surveillance. With IP surveillance, they are asking IT to share its most important asset, the network. From the network perspective, it is essentially no different than a new accounting program or inventory tracking system. Here is a short list of considerations that will be important to IT when considering implementation of IP surveillance:
Network Utilization Whats the worst case scenario? Quality of Service Are there typical measurements to track QoS? Security Precautions Does the video data need to be secured? How? Physical Locations of Components Where and how many components? Network Connections Will additional ports or switches be needed? Protocols Will this affect any other applications on the network? Operations Whos responsible for what?
One of Inacoms strategic partners, Cisco, has provided the following case study highlighting how the police departments in Seal Beach and Los Alamitos, California, use this tool, a wireless, real-time video management network, to help them fight crime.
_________ Larry Boettger GIAC, MCSE, CHA, CHP, CHSS, is an Information Systems Data Security and Business Technology Specialist with Inacom Information Systems in Madison, Wisconsin. He can be reached at larry.boettger@inacom-msn.com.
