While at ISC West, Cisco announced additions to its IP-based video surveillance product portfolio that use the network as a platform for accessing video and transforming disparate legacy security systems to be more collaborative and responsive while preserving customers’ existing investments.

According to Cisco, its latest offerings – an IP surveillance camera, a scalable video recording and storage platform, and new video surveillance software – provide greater security scalability, and are easily integrated with other security and business systems to enhance the value of video. Additionally these products are designed to enable a smooth migration from analog to network-based deployments, and interoperate with third-party storage.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates Cisco’s commitment to help organizations transform siloed systems and applications into a united solution to enhance safety and security operations,” says Mark Farino, general manager of Cisco’s Converged Security Infrastructure Business Unit. “By utilizing the IP network, businesses can align security with overall corporate goals. Such a transformation makes security organizations more effective and strategic to their businesses.”

The surveillance solution also allows live or recorded video to be accessed by authorized users from virtually anywhere at any time through the IP network. As a result, security professionals are given timelier access to information that fosters a more collaborative and comprehensive approach to security operations.

“Improving the efficiency of traditional analog video surveillance systems by adding new IP functions and services will dramatically improve operational effectiveness and productivity in safety and security applications for healthcare, retail, public sector, and the gaming industry to name a few,” continues Farino.

As part of its expanded physical security portfolio, Cisco announced the following new products and enhancements:

• Cisco video surveillance IP camera
  The IP camera supports motion-triggered, high-quality D1 (720X480) resolution using MPEG4 encoding. It offers security features such as 802.1X authentication. Flexible deployment options, whether wireless or wired, and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) connection capabilities make it ideal for new and incremental deployments.
• Cisco services platform for scalable mass storage
  The mass storage services platform provides a scalable recording solution that can be linked (via SCSI or Fibre Channel connections) to external storage arrays. It can aggregate video in one location and utilize IP networks to make it accessible throughout an organization.
• Enhancements to Cisco Stream Manager Video Surveillance Software
  Cisco Stream Manager Software version 5.0 delivers new features for all Cisco video surveillance products:
  • Policy-based alarm handling, multicamera synchronized playback and display sequencing
  • Support for higher video compression ratios using H.264 encoding, variable frame rate and resolution based on dynamic events, and video traffic prioritization using quality-of-service mechanisms.
  • Granular control of user access to video surveillance system devices
  • Easier deployment and management of physical security devices on an IP network

The new Cisco IP camera, and the scalable mass storage recording services platform are scheduled to be available by the end of May 2007. New feature enhancements in Stream Manager Software version 5.0 are available to existing customers at no extra cost and will be supported on Cisco IP gateways, services platforms and integrated services platforms.

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