sapl sansquare automation

Milestone XProtect: The Ultimate Video Management Solution

by SecurityPosted on No Comments

Maximizing Your Security with Milestone XProtect: The Ultimate Video Management Solution Since its inception in the late 1990s, Milestone XProtect has redefined the video surveillance landscape, evolving from basic CCTV systems to a sophisticated platform offering cutting-edge features such as high-definition video, advanced analytics, facial and license plate recognition, and seamless access control integration. The foundation of this transformation lies in Milestone’s Video Management Software (VMS), which serves as the backbone for a robust, scalable security solution. Why Choose Milestone XProtect? Milestone XProtect stands out as a reliable and scalable VMS solution trusted by over 500,000 installations globally. Whether you’re a small business with a few cameras or an enterprise managing thousands, XProtect offers a tailored approach to suit diverse needs. What sets XProtect apart is its open architecture, allowing seamless integration with over 1,000 third-party devices and applications. This flexibility ensures that users can create a security system that fits their unique requirements, from cameras and access control systems to advanced video analytics. This open approach also reduces integration costs, enabling users to incorporate their existing infrastructure without having to start from scratch. Flexibility to Grow with Your Business Milestone understands that no two businesses are alike. Whether you’re starting small or scaling up, XProtect adapts to your growth. The system is available in five versions, each designed to meet specific needs and support future expansion: XProtect Essential+: Ideal for small businesses, supporting up to 8 cameras. XProtect Express+: Suited for single-site operations with up to 48 cameras, offering advanced features like alarms and maps. XProtect Professional+: Perfect for multi-site operations, offering unlimited cameras and servers, edge storage, and central management. XProtect Expert: Designed for large-scale installations requiring robust video integrity, failover management, and enhanced cybersecurity. XProtect Corporate: Tailored for high-security environments, supporting unlimited cameras and providing tools for evidence management and centralized control. These options allow users to start with what they need and scale up as their security requirements grow, making XProtect a future-proof solution. Access Your System Anytime, Anywhere Milestone XProtect offers three flexible access options, ensuring users can stay connected and manage security from anywhere: XProtect Web Client: A browser-based interface for occasional users, perfect for remote monitoring and after-hours incident response. XProtect Smart Client: A powerful, task-oriented interface for day-to-day operations, integrating with applications like access control and license plate recognition. XProtect Mobile: A mobile solution allowing users to view live and recorded video from their smartphones. The mobile app also features two-way audio, enabling security personnel to communicate with people on-site, enhancing situational awareness and response capabilities. Professional Support and Maintenance To ensure your security system remains effective and up-to-date, Milestone offers three service packages through Milestone Care: Milestone Care Plus: Includes regular software updates, trade-in credits, and smart connectivity features. Milestone Care Premium: Provides 24/7 support from technical experts with prioritized service and response times. Milestone Care Elite: Offers a dedicated account manager for personalized support, ensuring your system is always optimized for peak performance. These support packages ensure that your XProtect system continues to operate smoothly, offering you peace of mind as you scale your security operations. Why Professional Installation Matters While Milestone XProtect is a powerful tool, professional installation is key to ensuring your system functions as intended. A certified Milestone partner will evaluate your security needs, design an optimal solution, and ensure the smooth integration of all components. Whether you’re deploying a single-site installation or a large-scale global system, professional installers will ensure your system is configured for maximum reliability and performance. Conclusion: Build Your Security Solution with Milestone XProtect Milestone XProtect provides the perfect foundation for creating a high-performing, scalable video surveillance system. By combining high-definition video, advanced analytics, and seamless integration with third-party systems, Milestone helps businesses of all sizes protect their premises, people, and property. Whether you’re protecting a retail store, a hospital, or an entire city, Milestone XProtect offers a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective VMS solution that can grow with your needs.

Hands – On Experience with Axis Camera Station Pro

by SecurityPosted on No Comments

This powerful and feature-rich VMS makes it easy to view live video, search and export recordings, and manage access control. Supporting the full Axis portfolio and analytics, you can build the right private network solution, and benefit from optional cloud connectivity. Professional video surveillance and access control We deployed Axis Camera Station Pro on a dedicated server configured with RAID 5 for data redundancy, ensuring secure storage for surveillance footage. * Quick Installation: The installation wizard streamlined the setup, including automatic firewall configurations. * ONVIF Support: Seamless integration with Bosch cameras, enabling flexibility for mixed-brand environments. * Edge Storage: Enabled local recording fallback during network disruptions. User Interface (GUI) The GUI is clean, responsive, and customizable: * Centralized Dashboard: Displays live feeds and device management tools. * Drag-and-Drop Layouts: Easy configuration of camera views. * Smooth Playback: Timeline-based and motion-event searches simplify investigations. Camera Setup & Analytics * Auto-Discovery: Automatically detects compatible Axis and ONVIF-supported cameras. * Flexible Recording Options: Continuous, motion-triggered, and scheduled recording profiles. * Analytics Features: Tried and tested motion detection and object-tracking analytics for smarter event management. Reliable Features for Investigation & Monitoring * Live Monitoring: Smooth, real-time feeds across multiple streams. * Smart Search: Efficient investigation tools using motion and time filters. * Secure Video Exports: Password-protected file exports. * Mobile App Support: Remote access for live viewing and playback. AXIS Camera Station Pro is verified with the complete Axis portfolio so you can get the most out of your Axis cameras, intercoms, audio products, analytics, body worn cameras, and more. It also supports third-party products. You can improve your security with unified access control making it easy to handle building access and visitor management. A wide range of ACAP analytics combined with a powerful action rule engine makes it possible to trigger automated actions for improved security and operational efficiency. Moreover, this server-based VMS ensures you have the flexibility to build the right solution to meet your specific needs. Full control with flexible system setup With AXIS Camera Station Pro, you get the flexibility and control you need to implement and deploy a reliable, server-based system on your private network to meet your business needs. It doesn’t matter whether you have one site with a low channel count with a few cameras or several sites or many sites with hundreds of cameras and other IP devices. AXIS Camera Station Pro supports a wide portfolio of IP devices as well as third party cameras. Easy-to-use and powerful features The support for active directory makes it is easy to manage users. Featuring an intuitive, easy-to-learn interface, it’s simple to operate – from live view to export. Use drag-and-drop functionality, tabs and tree-view navigation to easily structure and operate your system. The advanced timeline with video scrubbing and display of events, makes it easy to find the right video. Or, use Smart search to find objects with different characteristics and similarities. An incident report can summarize the case and be shared with third parties. Video redaction secures third-party privacy before export. And, AXIS Data Insight Dashboard offers actionable insights from your installation to make informed decisions. Enhanced security with access control This powerful VMS includes a tab for AXIS Camera Station Secure Entry so you can easily manage visitors and verify access to your premises. Unified and intuitive access control software and VMS capabilities allow you to manage building access, visually verify people entering the building, alert in case of incidents, and you can use access control events when investigating incidents. Designed to work with Axis network door controllers and Axis card readers, this scalable solution can manage up to 192 doors per server and up to 10,000 cardholders with support for multiple credentials such as cards, PINs, QR codes, and license plates. Peace of mind from A to Z AXIS Camera Station Pro is developed according to the Axis Security Development Model (ASDM) to ensure cybersecurity throughout the software development lifecycle. This powerful VMS uses built-in cybersecurity features and standards to enable secure behavior, such as HTTPS and signed video. System health monitoring offers system status, and notifications if there is any device issues. This scalable and future-proof investment offers an easy licensing model with no hidden costs. Flexible and easy access to your system – from anywhere Axis offer several ways to log into the system. You can log into the Windows client on your workstation for a fully featured experience. And the mobile viewing app lets you take necessary actions on the go. This app makes it easy to stay in control and keep up with events from your surveillance sites. It includes features such as live view, timeline visualization of recorded events, and snapshots in live view and playback. You can receive alarm notifications, respond with live audio, and manage visitors by answering calls from intercoms. In addition, it’s possible to access your system and perform key functions for video operation and system management – directly in your web browser. Recording solutions for every need The AXIS Camera Station network video recorder range offers you flexible solutions to meet your requirements. You can design your system using a centralized server or place servers on each site – the choice is yours. AXIS Camera Station Pro also gives you the flexibility to use third-party servers and even virtual machines. Conclusion   Axis Camera Station Pro proved to be a reliable, sturdy, and scalable solution for our video surveillance needs. The seamless ONVIF support for Bosch cameras, intuitive analytics, and robust data handling via RAID 5 make it a compelling choice for modern surveillance projects. Looking to explore or deploy Axis Camera Station Pro for your site? Let’s discuss your needs!  

Understanding “PoE” and Its Industry Standards

by Networking, SecurityPosted on No Comments

What Is PoE in Networking? Power over Ethernet delivers electrical power to PoE-enabled devices using your CATx network cables. Because you don’t need to run electrical wiring, PoE saves money in materials and installation time. It’s also flexible, especially for remote applications, since it doesn’t require a nearby electrical outlet. These and other benefits have led to a sharp increase in PoE’s popularity in recent years. However, the limiting factor has always been power. How Does PoE Work? The way it works is simple. Ethernet cable that meets CATx standards consists of four twisted pairs of cable, and PoE sends power over these pairs to PoE-enabled devices. First PoE standards use two twisted pairs to transmit data, while the remaining two pairs are used for power transmission. With the new PoE standards, power and data are both sent over all four twisted pairs. When the same pairs are used for both power and data, the power and data transmissions don’t interfere with each other. That’s because electricity and data are transported at opposite ends of the frequency spectrum. Electricity has a low frequency of 60 Hz or less, and data transmissions have frequencies that can range from 10 million to 100 million Hz. What Is the 802.3at PoE Standard? The original IEEE 802.3af-2003 PoE standard provides up to 15.4 W of DC power on each port. The updated IEEE 802.3at-2009 PoE standard, also known as PoE+ or PoE plus, allows for up to 30 W of power to Type 2 devices. That’s sufficient power for devices such as VoIP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras. But it’s not enough for technology like flat screen displays, LED lighting, or retail POS terminals. Introducing the 802.3bt PoE Standard To meet the demand for higher power, the IEEE released a new PoE standard at the end of 2018, to significantly increase capacity. IEEE 802.3bt allows for up to 60 W to 100 W of power at the source by providing power over four pairs of wires (compared to the previous technology’s ability to power over just two pairs). This increase in power allows you to use PoE for a greater range devices and applications. As an added benefit, the new standard will boost energy efficiency by minimizing power loss in the cable, potentially cutting power loss in half. The new standard will include support for 2.5GBASE-T, 5GBASE-T and 10GBASE-T, while existing standards have a maximum speed of 1-Gbps. This new support will create intermediate data speeds between existing standards. PoE Types and Power Levels Previous PoE technology included PoE Type 1, also called IEEE 802.3af, and PoE Type 2, better known as 802.3at or PoE+. Both utilise 2-pair Power over Ethernet, Type 1 with a maximum of 15.4 W per port and Type 2 with a maximum of 30 W per port. With the new 802.3bt standard come two new options: Type 3 and Type 4. Type 3 is also called 4-pair PoE, 4PPoE, PoE++, or UPoE. It provides 60 W of power per port and is ideal for video conferencing equipment, multi-radio wireless access points, PTZ cameras, and building management devices. Type 4 (another designation is high-power PoE) offers the highest power capabilities, potentially up to 100 W of DC power (71.3 W to each device), and can support flat screens and laptops. For more detailed specifications on PoE Type 4 and other types, you can refer to the following table. Name IEEE Standard Power to Powered Device (PD) Max. Power per Port Energized Pairs Supported Devices PoE IEEE 802.3af 12.95 W 15.4 W 2-pair Static surveillance cameras, VoIP phones, wireless access points PoE+ IEEE 802.3at 25.5 W 30 W 2-pair PTZ cameras, video IP phones, alarm systems PoE++ IEEE 802.3bt (Type 3) 51 W 60 W 4-pair Video conferencing equipment, multi-radio wireless access points PoE++ IEEE 802.3bt (Type 4) 71.3 W 100 W 4-pair Laptops, flat screens PoE Applications and Benefits Use one set of twisted-pair wires for both data and low-wattage appliances. In addition to the applications noted above, PoE also works well for video surveillance, building management, retail video kiosks, smart signs, vending machines, and retail point-of-information systems. Save money by eliminating the need to run electrical wiring. Easily move an appliance with minimal disruption. If your LAN is protected from power failure by a UPS, the PoE devices connected to your LAN are also protected from power failure. Black Box offers a wide range of PoE products that allow you to take advantage of higher-power capabilities of PoE such as the following: PoE Ethernet Switches PoE Ethernet Switches can act as a power source equipment besides their usual functions. They inject power into the Ethernet cable to power the attached PoE-enabled devices such as wireless access points and security cameras. PoE Splitters PoE Splitters receive a PoE signal with data and power. They separate data and power onto two different lines to support non-PoE devices. PoE Repeaters/ PoE Extenders Enable extension of PoE connections beyond the 100-meter limit to access far away PoE devices such as access points, cameras, and VoIP phones. PoE Media Converters PoE Media Converters are the ideal way to extend your network over fibre or copper and also provide power to remote PoE devices to long-distance data links. They act as a copper to fibre converter and power source equipment all in one device. PoE Injectors PoE injectors carry data and power simultaneously over a single Ethernet cable. These type of Injectors power various VoIP phones, security system cameras, wireless network access points, Bluetooth® access points, and other 802.3af-compatible equipment. With it, you avoid the cost and hassle of installing AC power at remote cameras, access point, or thin client. Move equipment from room to room without costly, time-consuming rewiring.

sapl sansquare sapltech

Free and Public DNS server 2025

by Networking, SecurityPosted on No Comments

You need to select your service thoughtfully—not all providers will necessarily outperform your ISP—but to guide you in the right direction, this article will showcase four of the top DNS servers available. Cloudflare Primary, secondary DNS servers: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 Best recognized for its highly-rated CDN, Cloudflare has expanded its services to include a public DNS option, aptly named 1.1.1.1. Key Features: Cloudflare’s public DNS service offers a blend of speed, privacy, and optional features, making it a compelling choice for users seeking reliable internet performance without compromising privacy. Google Public DNS Primary, secondary DNS servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 Google Public DNS is a straightforward and efficient alternative to your ISP’s nameservers, providing reliable performance and accessibility. Key Features: Google Public DNS strikes a good balance between simplicity and robust functionality, appealing to users who value performance and are comfortable navigating basic technical configurations. Gcore Best for tech enthusiasts Gcore, formerly G-Core Labs, is a globally recognized internet infrastructure provider known for its record-setting capabilities. It specializes in cloud and edge computing solutions, particularly for the entertainment and media industries, catering to users with a strong technological inclination. Key Features: Ideal Use Cases: Gcore is well-suited for users seeking high-performance server solutions backed by a strong global presence. However, prospective customers should be comfortable navigating a more complex pricing model. OpenDNS Primary, secondary DNS servers: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 OpenDNS, founded in 2005 and now part of Cisco, is one of the leading public DNS providers, handling an impressive 620 billion DNS queries daily. Key Features: Ideal For: OpenDNS is an excellent choice for users seeking a free, reliable DNS service with additional filtering options or those wanting basic parental controls without investing in standalone software. Whether a free DNS service is worth it depends on your specific needs. While free DNS services can be sufficient for basic browsing and small-scale needs, premium DNS services offer significant advantages for users who require higher performance, enhanced security, and advanced features. Pros of Free DNS: Advantages of Premium DNS: Who Should Consider Premium DNS? Conclusion: Free DNS services are great for casual users, but premium DNS is worth considering if you need advanced capabilities, enhanced performance, and robust security. The choice depends on the importance of these factors for your specific use case.

sapl sansquare automation

pfSense vs FortiGate – Which Firewall Solution is Superior?

by Hardware, Networking, SecurityPosted on No Comments

In the search for a comprehensive firewall Pfsense and Fortigate are two options that consistently top the list of choices. Which one should you go for? When it comes to choosing the right software for your specified needs, it is seldom as simple as picking the best rated or cheapest option. It requires you to analyse your needs against your current hardware and software capabilities and using this analysis to examine the available options before settling on one firewall software. Both pfsense and Fortigate use different operating systems, which already makes their systems of functionality very different but they both use a GUI (Graphical user interface), making them fairly easy to use compared to a command line. They both are highly rated and widely used security software, with a lot of functional similarities but few yet significant differences. What are the differences between Pfsense and Fortigate? Feature Pfsense Fortigate (Winner) Operating System Free BSD FortiOS Price Free Paid User Interface Graphical User Interface Graphical User Interface as well as a Command User Interface Intrusion Protection System Yes Yes Secure Socket Layers No Yes Cloud security No Yes Pfsense Vs Fortigate- How do they compare? Pricing Pfsense is free while Fortigate is paid. However, there is a version of pfsense, (Pfsense-pro), which is paid and rivals Fortigate better than the common free and open source version. Comparing pfsense-pro to Fortigate in terms of cost, Fortigate is definitely more affordable. Keeping in mind that the common version of pfsense, and the subject of this review is free, Fortigate seems pricey. The chances of getting errors and bugs in pfsense is higher because it is open source. However, the developers frequently release new versions and updates to combat this, which could be tasking to a user to keep up with.   Operating systems As highlighted in the comparative table, Pfsense uses the free BSD operating system while Fortigate uses a specialized FortiOS. There are several implications of this for both software; the first is that because it is specialized for cyber security, the FortiOS is safer and less prone to bugs and errors than the free BSD operating system. Because it is free and open source, the codes on the free BSD operating system can easily be tweaked and re-written to be used as a basis for a completely different software, which is not the same for FortiOS. Ease of use As mentioned above, both Pfsense and Fortigate use a GUI to interact with the user, making them easier to use than your average firewall software. However, the GUI on Fortigate is very intuitive and easy to use, making it easier to navigate than pfsense. The interface on Pfsense contains a lot of side and drop menus that are very confusing for a new user, compared to the well laid out and intuitive arrangement that Fortigate has.Fortigate gives the user the option to use a command line interface together with the GUI, which is not the case for pfsense. This option allows experienced CLI users to quickly adapt to the system as well as making it faster and more efficient. It also adds a new flexibility to the software that pfsense does not have.   Security Pfsense weakly compares to the vast feature set and wide array of technical security services that Fortigate offers its users. This is because Fortigate has a very large network of sensors in its system that are designed to detect malicious cyber activity, whose functionality is licenced and owned by Fortinet and occasionally licenced over to some security companies. In addition to this, pfsense is free and open source which lowers its overall security compared to a paid and patented firewall solution. Pfsense Vs Fortigate – A comparison review Pfsense Pfsense is an open source and free firewall and routing software that was initially developed to help users build their own routing systems from scratch as well as offer firewall solutions for said users. Its securities are quite impressive including basic rule based filtering for online traffic and intrusion protection systems as well as additional features like built in connection proxies and load balancing. It also allows for use of open VPN as well as VPN client. Over time, it has become very popular in different sizes and types of businesses as well as homes as their go to firewall solution, primarily because it offers a variety of features despite being totally free. It is also easy to use because it is based on Free BSD and has a lot of documentation available as well as an endless stream of online forums and tutorials on how to use it. Pros It is free to download and use It has a variety of diverse uses outside firewalling It has a lot of additional features Fortigate Fortigate is the initial security networking programme from the company Fortinet, formed in 2002. Through time, and with consistent and reliable modifications and upgrades, Fortigate has risen to be a top industry-leading firewall solution for a wide range of businesses. It is favoured for its reliable security features such as web filtering, IPS (Intrusion protection systems) and SSL (Secure sockets layer). These features coupled with their amazing customer support system make Fortigate a very reasonable investment for cyber security. Fortigate has modern Artificial Intelligence-driven firewall operations that make the already efficient security system highly intuitive to the user’s needs by automatically detecting and appropriately responding to a wide range of types of cyber threats. It not only provides security based networking but also accelerates the user experience quality, making it very easy and convenient to use in any work or home environment. Pros Its GUI is designed to be very easy to use Although it is priced, it is very affordable for its functionality Fortinet offers great customer support ConclusionWhen compared as security solutions, FortiGate outshines pfSense in most aspects, except for the flexibility inherent to open-source software and the advantages of utilizing the FreeBSD operating system. That said, the comparison between pfSense …

Read more “pfSense vs FortiGate – Which Firewall Solution is Superior?”