In the world of cybersecurity, ethical hacking proactively identifies security vulnerabilities before malicious actors (i.e., unethical hackers) can exploit them. By simulating real-world attacks, organisations can strengthen defences, protect sensitive data, and maintain public trust. In the physical security world, ethical hacking can transform cybersecurity of security systems from a reactive struggle into a strategic safeguard. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the role of ethical hacking as it relates to physical security?

Next-generation (Next-Gen) technologies are products, services, or infrastructures that represent a significant leap forward rather than a small, incremental update. In the physical security industry, NextGen products are those that enable disruptive change, breakthrough performance, and a fundamental change that renders previous products obsolete. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the next generation of physical security solutions, and how will they change the industry?

Emphasising proactive rather than reactive security shifts the focus from dealing with crises and damage control to prevention. Advantages of a proactive approach include cost efficiency, better business continuity, and fewer crises that draw attention away from strategic improvements. Staying ahead of threats is a core mission of the security department, and technology has evolved to enable security professionals to deliver on that mission better than ever. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How are security systems transitioning from reactive to proactive, and what is the benefit?

Multiple technology trends are transforming the physical access control market. There is a fundamental shift away from physical cards and keys toward digital identities — mobile credentials, digital wallets, biometrics, and cloud-native access platforms. These next generation access solutions are radically reshaping how buildings operate, protect staff, and perform functionally. At the same time, AI and analytics solutions are being layered onto these physical access control systems to support predictive threat detection and behavioural insights. Access data itself is becoming an asset for sustainability, space optimisation, and smart building initiatives. Risk, impact operations and experience The annual HID Global Security and Identity Trends Report highlights these and other issues The annual HID Global Security and Identity Trends Report highlights these and other issues. The survey cites improving user convenience as a priority for nearly half of organisations, while 41% are focused on simplifying administration, and 28% struggle with system integration. These are not theoretical challenges, they are day‑to‑day friction points that add cost, increase risk, impact operations and experience, and, of course, must be addressed. HID Global’s commercial focus HID Global’s commercial focus is to help organisations digitise their access control — with mobile identities, biometrics, and cloud platforms — and then to use the data to deliver more value. “We are turning access control from an operational cost into a software-driven asset that improves efficiency, supports Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and even creates new revenue opportunities,” says Steven Commander, HID Global’s Head of Consultant Relations. The impact of digital transformation Digital transformation is the method of moving access control from hardware and physical credentials Digital transformation is in the process of moving access control from hardware and physical credentials to a software-driven, integrated experience. The transformation strengthens security while also improving user convenience — transforming the “pavement to the desk” journey. HID enables this shift through mobile credentials, biometrics, cloud-native platforms, and solutions that allow third-party applications to run on door hardware. “This helps customers turn access data into operational and commercial outcomes, while also improving the overall user experience,” says Commander.  Digital transformation in access control is not focused on chasing the latest trends. Rather, transformation is about turning software, data and integration into outcomes that matter to customers, says HID. “Security becomes stronger and more adaptive,” says Commander. “Operations become simpler and more cost‑effective. Experiences become seamless and consistent. Sustainability moves from ambition to action. And the financial case becomes clearer as efficiencies are banked and new value streams emerge.” The challenge of futureproofing with long lifecycles Given that physical security technologies will be in place for 15 to 20 years, it is important to plan for how systems can evolve over time. Considering how rapidly security threats, compliance standards, and user expectations change, 15 to 20 years is a long time. The decisions made at the beginning of a system’s lifecycle can either limit flexibility later (which will be costly) or enable long-term adaptability. Support for open standards such as Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) is therefore important Choosing products and platforms that are open, interoperable, and designed for updates can enable future-proof projects. Support for open standards such as Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) is therefore important.  In addition, systems built on open controller platforms — such as Mercury — enable organisations to switch software providers or expand functionality without replacing core door hardware. Architectural openness is key to system lifecycles and maximising the return on investment (ROI) from a chosen solution. Digital credentials and mobile access Flexibility and upgradeability should also be top of mind when it comes to endpoints like access control readers. While RFID cards are still commonplace, there is a clear trend toward digital credentials and mobile access. Readers that support both allow organisations to transition at their own pace, without committing to a full system overhaul. A long system lifecycle does not mean technology should remain static. Security, particularly cybersecurity, demands more frequent updates. Technologies that support firmware upgrades in the field extend the value of a deployment while helping organisations keep pace with emerging threats. In that sense, lifecycle thinking is not just about longevity — it’s about maintaining resilience and readiness over time. Applying biometrics and mobile identities Biometrics is becoming mainstream as a credential alternative, strengthening security without adding friction Biometrics is becoming mainstream as a credential alternative, strengthening security without adding friction. Many organisations are now deploying biometrics to support fast, seamless access journeys, with adoption already around 39% in access control according to HID’s recent research.  In addition, 80% of organisations surveyed expect to deploy mobile identities within the next five years. Full technology integration enables tap‑to‑access without opening an app; the user journey becomes faster, safer, and more convenient. “It is where the industry is headed and we are at the vanguard of this,” says Commander.    Ongoing challenge of cybersecurity At HID Global, cybersecurity is embedded into everything, from corporate processes and development practices to the solutions they bring to market. “Our approach ensures that customers can strengthen their overall security posture, not only by deploying secure products but by benefitting from HID’s commitment to the highest industry standards,” says Commander. HID holds multiple globally recognised certifications, including ISO 27001, ISO 14298, SOC Type 2 and CSA STAR, which demonstrate their robust information security and cloud security practices. In addition, HID’s SEOS® secure chipset is independently SEAL-certified, providing one of the most advanced levels of protection available on the market today. “Ultimately, this means organisations are not just purchasing isolated secure products; they are implementing solutions developed and delivered within a comprehensive, cybersecure framework,” says Commander. “When deployed according to best practices, HID solutions enable customers to achieve the highest levels of resilience against evolving physical and cyber threats.” Developing green and sustainable solutions A huge amount of waste is generated from the manufacture of plastic RFID access cards Digital credentials align with the sustainable solutions that everyone wants. A huge amount of waste is generated from the manufacture of plastic RFID access cards. Over 550 million access cards are sold annually. This creates 2,700 tons of plastic waste and 11,400 tons of carbon, based on a PVC card weighing 5 grams.  Therefore, digital credentials self-evidently reduce the reliance on plastic cards (helping reduce carbon emissions by up to 75% according to HID’s research), while leveraging access control system data supports energy optimisation by shutting down or reducing systems in unused spaces. Energy use and CO₂ emissions can be cut dramatically, showing how access systems can contribute to sustainability goals and green building certification. What is the latest in smart buildings? Smart buildings increasingly rely on mobile access control as the backbone for digital services. Real-time access data enables new services such as automated room bookings, HVAC control, lift/elevator calling, e-bike hiring, and so on. Smart buildings increasingly rely on mobile access control as the backbone for digital services The financial upside is clear; smart, digitally transformed buildings can deliver around 8% higher yields per square foot versus traditional office space. Operational savings accrue from reduced administration, the removal of card production and shipping, and lighter IT support. This creates a value cycle — better experiences drive adoption, adoption fuels monetisation, and monetisation funds further improvements. Achieving technology impact in the real world One standout project is One Bangkok – a $3.9 billion mixed used development in Thailand – which demonstrates the scale of what can be achieved when access control data is used for optimisation, particularly when it comes to monitoring facilities usage and occupier behaviours. By switching lights off or lowering the temperature in unused rooms, for example, the One Bangkok building demonstrates this potential with a 22% reduction in energy consumption, saving 17,000 MWh and 9,000 tons of CO₂ annually.  Sustainability is a key factor in contributing to how properties are valued. And sustainability extends far beyond digital credentials having a lower environmental impact than plastic cards.  Buildings with recognised sustainability certifications often command rental premiums of around 6%, and three‑quarters of security decision‑makers now consider environmental impact in their procurement assessments.

The new AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34 combine up to 100 TOPS of AI performance, four GMSL2 camera connections, and fanless rugged operation for transportation, AMR, and industrial automation applications. Aetina Corporation, a pioneer AI solution provider and an accelerator of edge AI infrastructure, announces the DeviceEdge AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34, Aetina’s first palm-sized in-vehicle edge AI systems, powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX and NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano modules. Delivering up to 100 TOPS of AI performance and supporting up to four GMSL2 cameras in an ultra-compact, rugged form factor, the new systems are ready for mass production and target smart transportation, autonomous mobile robots (AMR), and industrial automation deployments where space and reliability are equally critical. Industrial automation deployments As AI-powered vision systems become increasingly essential across smart cities, intelligent transportation, and industrial automation, real-time processing of high-quality, multi-camera video streams within space-constrained environments remains a persistent challenge. The AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34 address this directly: powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX (8GB/16GB) and NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano with Super Mode (4GB/8GB), the systems deliver up to 100 TOPS and 67 TOPS of AI performance respectively, packed into a palm-sized 136.3 x 132 x 63 mm chassis. Each system features four GMSL2 (Fakra-Z) ports, enabling long-distance, low-latency multi-camera streaming, real-time AI inference, and 360-degree environmental perception for surround-view monitoring, blind-spot detection, and situational awareness. Long-distance image transmission To accelerate system integration, the AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34 can be flexibly expanded with Aetina validated GMSL2 adapter boards and camera modules, which support with plug-and-play driver-ready for long-distance image transmission of up to 15 meters. This bundle offering brings together camera sensing, high-speed visual data transmission, and NVIDIA Jetson Orin–powered edge inference, helping customers simplify system integration, shorten development and validation cycles, and achieve highly scalable, customisable AI deployment. Automotive electronic equipment Engineered for demanding mobile and industrial applications, the AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34 pair rugged reliability with flexible connectivity. Both systems have passed MIL-STD-810H shock and vibration testing and carry E-Mark (E24) certification for automotive electronic equipment, streamlining integration into global vehicle markets. A fanless architecture supports stable, throttle-free operation from -25°C to +55°C, while a 9–36V DC wide-voltage input and integrated Ignition Power Control protect against voltage fluctuations and enable safe startup and shutdown. Isolated CAN FD and GPIO/RS-232 interfaces connect vehicle signals, controllers, sensors, and industrial peripherals, complemented by Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), USB 3.2, HDMI, M.2 M-Key storage, and optional M.2 E-Key wireless expansion. Actionable intelligence for AI agents The convergence of V2X and edge computing continues to drive demand for compact, rugged in-vehicle computing platforms that capable of processing multi-camera vision data locally and in real time. The AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34 turn visual data into actionable intelligence for AI agents and autonomous systems, supporting surround-view monitoring and blind-spot detection for commercial vehicles, obstacle avoidance and path planning for AMRs, real-time defect inspection on production lines, and people tracking and security monitoring across smart retail and building environments. AI computing portfolio James Ho, Manager of Edge Computing Product Division at Aetina, stated: “As real-time, multi-camera perception becomes the sensing layer for AI agents operating in vehicles, AMRs, and industrial equipment, customers need edge compute that is rugged enough for the field and ready for mass production from day one, Aetina’s palm-sized in-vehicle edge AI systems bring four-camera GMSL2 support, automotive-grade certification, and NVIDIA Elite Partner-backed BSP support together in one rugged multi-vision platform, helping customers simplify integration and accelerate the deployment of intelligent vision at the edge.” The AIE-VN34/44 and AIE-VO24/34 are available now for mass production, supporting BSP built on NVIDIA JetPack 6.2, with NVIDIA JetPack 7.2 support to be added soon. 

NETSCOUT®, a provider of observability, AIOps, cybersecurity, and DDoS attack protection solutions, today announced an extension of its Adaptive DDoS Protection (ADP) solution enabling service providers to automatically detect and mitigate outbound DDoS attack traffic. By extending protection from the attack target towards its source, NETSCOUT helps operators prevent compromised subscriber devices from disrupting their own networks, consuming costly capacity and attacking customers and organisations across the internet. Multi-terabit attacks Consumer broadband routers, cameras and other IoT devices are increasingly being weaponised by Turbo-Mirai class botnets capable of generating multi-terabit attacks. These outbound attacks have already caused costly service outages, reputational damage and customer loss, and damage to peering relationships risking a large increase in transit costs at service providers around the world. By detecting and mitigating malicious traffic generated by compromised device populations before it leaves their networks, service providers can reduce abuse complaints and infrastructure costs while protecting their own networks and services and helping lower subscriber churn and regulatory risk. Vulnerable IoT devices “The combination of higher-speed broadband connectivity and vulnerable IoT devices has been weaponised by a new class of massive DDoS botnets,” said Patrick Donegan, founder and principal analyst, HardenStance. “Source-side mitigation, or attack suppression as it’s sometimes known, is a critical part of the equation. NETSCOUT’s approach, backed by its ATLAS Intelligence Feed (AIF) and ASERT analysts, gives service providers the tools they need to detect and stop attacks before they have an impact, protecting their customers and the broader internet from the large-scale DDoS attacks we have seen.” Comprehensive threat intelligence Using AI-powered threat intelligence and automated detection and mitigation, NETSCOUT’s ADP solution, an addition to its Arbor Sightline and Arbor Threat Mitigation System: Automatically detects and mitigates ever evolving attacks through dynamic detection, intelligent redirection and adaptive mitigation Extends these capabilities to outbound traffic, combining enhanced, customised detection with comprehensive threat intelligence tailored for each ISP Uses NETSCOUT’s proprietary AI/ML-powered DDoS detection to analyse massive volumes of outbound internet traffic to uncover attacks designed to hide within legitimate flows Draws on unique global real-time intelligence of DDoS activity covering approximately half of all internet traffic to rapidly detect and mitigate DDoS attacks and pinpoint the responsible, compromised devices Emerging service provider challenges “We are extending DDoS defence from the target to the source,” stated Darren Anstee, CTO for security, NETSCOUT. “By using our internet-scale visibility to derive localised threat intelligence for our customers, NETSCOUT can identify and precisely suppress attacks at their origin, before they cause problems locally or at their target. This capability gives our customers a new level of comprehensive defence across their peering, transit, cloud and customer edges.” This expansion of capabilities demonstrates how NETSCOUT is applying its global threat visibility and proven ADP solution to meet emerging service provider challenges. By extending an established inbound DDoS workflow to outbound and cross-bound threats, NETSCOUT enables operators to improve network-resilience, cost-controls and revenue protection through its proven Arbor Sightline and Arbor TMS solutions.

With its Middle East entity now operational, Gallagher Security is building on more than 20 years of regional success through continued investment in local talent and a new office in Dubai Silicon Oasis, reinforcing its long-term commitment to a key growth market. “When we announced the establishment of our Middle East entity, we made a commitment to bringing Gallagher closer to our End Users and Channel Partners. The Middle East remains one of the most important growth regions in our global business,” says Craig Schutte, Executive Vice President for APAC and IMEA. Long-term commitment “What gives us confidence about the future is the strength of the team we have in place to support it. Our people bring decades of experience with Gallagher solutions, deep regional knowledge, and trusted relationships that have been built over many years.” Leading Gallagher's next phase of growth in the region is an experienced team of professionals who have already played a role in Gallagher’s success across the Middle East. Sharbil Khalil, Director of Operations, brings more than 22 years of experience in both the electronic security industry as well as with Gallagher technology since its introduction to the Middle East in 2002 – previously known as Cardax and Powerfence. Sharbil will continue to play a key role in driving Gallagher's operational growth, while strengthening customer and partner engagement throughout the region. Integrated security solutions Khodor Habbouche, Regional Sales Director, has been part of Gallagher's Middle East journey for almost 16 years, supporting End Users and Channel Partners across critical infrastructure, banking, healthcare, education, commercial, and government sectors. His extensive regional experience and strong partner relationships position him to help expand Gallagher's presence while delivering the exceptional support he’s known for to customers across the Middle East. Rami Mousleh, National Technical Manager, brings 15 years of Gallagher experience and deep technical expertise in integrated security solutions. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with Technology Partners and End Users to deliver complex security integrations, helping organisations leverage Gallagher's open platform capabilities to build scalable, future-ready security ecosystems. Strategic customer relationships Finally, Ibrahim Ghazal, Business Development Manager, has spent the past decade helping drive Gallagher's growth across the region through business development and consultant engagement, as well as strategic customer relationships. His experience identifying new opportunities and working closely with End Users has contributed to the success of high-profile local projects and strengthened Gallagher's position in key Middle East markets. Craig says Sharbil, Khodor, Rami, and Ibrahim will play an important role in helping Gallagher build even stronger relationships with Channel Partners and End Users as the award-winning security manufacturer continues to grow. Craig says work continues at Gallagher’s new Dubai Silicon Oasis office, which will serve as the regional headquarters and home to a dedicated Gallagher Experience Centre and Training Hub. Increasingly complex security The new office will showcase Gallagher's complete solution portfolio and integration capabilities, while helping industry develop the knowledge and expertise required to address increasingly complex security and resilience challenges. “The Middle East presents enormous opportunities, and we're committed to ensuring Gallagher has the people, infrastructure, and expertise in place to support that growth,” says Craig. "We're building for the long term, and this is the next step in an exciting journey for Gallagher in the Middle East. We're looking forward to growing alongside our customers and partners for many years to come.”

Teleport, the AI Infrastructure Identity Company, announces support for Linux Desktop as a protected resource within the Teleport Infrastructure Identity Platform. Engineering teams can now apply the same cryptographic identity, least-privilege access controls, and session auditability to Linux desktops that they rely on for servers, Kubernetes clusters, databases, GitHub, and cloud environments. The result: Their developer workstation will reside within the same unified identity layer as the rest of their infrastructure. Professional development environments The announcement reflects the accelerating shift in how engineering teams work. According to the Stack Overflow 2025 Developer Survey of more than 49,000 respondents, Ubuntu alone accounts for 27.7% of professional development environments, with many other Linux distros including Debian, Red Hat, and Arch showing the distinct migration to Linux desktops. Because the infrastructure that engineers build and operate largely runs on Linux, working on a Linux desktop creates parity between development and production environments. This trend is further fuelled by the end-of-life of support in 2025 of widely distributed Windows 10 platforms and the broad migration of core business software and developer tooling to SaaS. Live session monitoring "With this release, we're extending the infrastructure identity layer to Linux, making Linux on the desktop the first class citizen in your computing infrastructure. This eliminates yet another identity silo, yet another attack surface, and yet another vendor to manage," said Ev Kontsevoy, CEO of Teleport. "When the developer’s Linux box is governed by the same unified identity layer as the rest of your infrastructure, you remove risk and harden resiliency. This is becoming more critical as frontier AI models emerge that can rapidly identify vulnerabilities for exploitation." With Linux Desktop support, Teleport customers can access Linux hosts across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments without opening ports or managing SSH keys, with all sessions subject to the same just-in-time access request workflows, live session monitoring, and audit logs applied to other supported protected resources in the platform. Modern engineering organisations This also enables companies to apply device trust, which ensures that resources are only accessed from registered and cryptographically verified machines, to this asset class. Linux Desktop, available in August, joins servers, Kubernetes, databases, web applications, Windows desktops, cloud consoles (AWS, GCP, Azure), GitHub, and MCP servers as a Teleport-protected resource type, extending the unified identity layer to one of the fastest-growing and most operationally critical surfaces in modern engineering organisations.

ZeroEyes, creators of the pioneer multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, announces that its proactive AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software has been deployed by Goessel USD 411 in Kansas to help protect students, staff, and visitors from gun-related threats. Goessel USD 411 is a small rural district serving approximately 285 students and employing 75 faculty and staff members across two campuses -- an elementary school and a combined junior-senior high school. The district is strengthened by a caring and supportive community, engaged families, and a strong school board, all of which contribute to its success and commitment to student well-being. Broader community initiatives The district secured funding through the Kansas Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Kansas Attorney General, to purchase and implement ZeroEyes. The grant followed coordination with local law enforcement and community leaders that identified AI gun detection as a key safety priority aligned with broader community initiatives. “I was very impressed by the system’s performance during our calibration process,” said Scott Boden, Superintendent of Goessel USD 411. “The ability to accurately detect and identify a handgun from a distance exceeded our expectations and gave us added confidence in the technology’s role in helping keep our schools safe.” Intelligent situational awareness ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software layers onto existing digital security cameras. If a gun is identified, images are instantly shared with the ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC), the industry’s only U.S.-based, fully in-house operations center staffed 24/7/365 by specially trained U.S. military and law enforcement veterans. If the threat is determined to be valid, alerts and actionable intelligence — including visual description, gun type, and last known location — are dispatched to law enforcement and school officials, often in a matter of seconds from the moment a gun is detected. Proactive detection technology Goessel USD 411 works in coordination with county law enforcement and surrounding agencies to support school safety efforts. The addition of ZeroEyes enhances this collaboration by providing earlier detection and faster communication, helping bridge the gap created by geographic distance and limited local resources. “Goessel USD 411 is taking an important step in strengthening school safety by implementing proactive detection technology,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. “By leveraging grant funding to bring advanced capabilities into a rural environment, the district is demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting its students and staff while preserving the close-knit culture that defines its community.”

Verkada, a pioneer in physical security and operations, announces that the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium adopted its platform to enhance fan safety and security. Hard Rock Stadium's new Verkada deployment unifies video security, access control, guest management, intercoms and alarms into a single, cloud-based platform that enables its team to streamline security operations at the scale and speed that the 65,585-seat venue demands. "As a world-class venue hosting global events year-round, we prioritise solutions that align with the scale and pace of our operations," said Sameer Istafa, Chief Technology Officer for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. "Verkada's unified platform provides a seamless, connected operating environment that supports our focus on delivering a consistent, elevated experience for our fans at every event." Resource-intensive maintenance costs Verkada's unified platform gives Hard Rock Stadium's team: Faster response during high-pressure moments. Activity-based detection and intelligent alerts provide teams with greater visibility into activity across Hard Rock Stadium, enabling faster, more informed responses when needed. Proactive perimeter coverage. Advanced detection tools enable Hard Rock Stadium to take a proactive approach to monitoring the stadium's exterior and surrounding areas, flagging unusual activity before it escalates. Streamlined access across a large campus. Verkada's cloud-managed access credentials replace physical keys and disconnected badge systems. With all door events logged, Verkada's platform can flag anomalies. Flexibility across a wide range of events. In addition to the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium hosts college football games, concerts, and other global events – and each event has a different footprint and different security needs. Verkada enables the Hard Rock Stadium team to tailor protocols event-by-event without new infrastructure. Lower infrastructure costs. Moving onto Verkada's cloud-based platform is expected to save Hard Rock Stadium on time- and resource-intensive maintenance costs, with new features delivered automatically through software updates. Insight into operational efficiency. Visual intelligence from Verkada's platform provides insight into occupancy trends that can enable operations teams to reduce bottlenecks and adjust staffing in real-time. World-class experience "Hard Rock Stadium can swing from hundreds of employees and vendors on a weekday to more than 65,000 fans in a matter of hours," said Filip Kaliszan, co-founder and CEO of Verkada. "Verkada is built to handle this kind of complexity, with one unified platform that keeps pace with an operation that never stays still. We're proud to provide solutions that help keep fans, athletes and entertainers who visit Hard Rock Stadium safe – and to give the team behind these legendary events the tools they need to keep delivering a world-class experience." Video security infrastructure Hard Rock Stadium worked with Castaway Technology and Security (CTS) to support its Verkada deployment and implementation across the campus. CTS used Verkada's Command Connector to bring Hard Rock Stadium's existing video security infrastructure into the new platform during the migration period, ensuring a smooth transition and letting security teams work from Verkada's platform from day one. "Hard Rock Stadium is a marquee venue that demands a security infrastructure to match. Our goal was to help them transition to a more agile and integrated ecosystem. With Verkada, we were able to deliver a truly end-to-end solution that eliminates technical friction, allowing the security team to focus entirely on maintaining a safe, premier experience for every fan," said Craig Bruce, co-founder at CTS.

When Brazil’s Taquari River threatens to overflow, the Municipality of Muçum no longer waits and watches—it knows. Using Hikvision’s water-level detection solution, the town gets faster, more accurate insights about the changing water levels in the river. This strengthens emergency responses and helps protect communities across the Taquari Valley. Located in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, the Municipality of Muçum is part of a wider region that has grown up along the Taquari River which runs through this mountainous region. Following relentless rainfall in both 2023 and 2024, the region experienced flooding of historic proportions. The 2024 disaster became the largest natural calamity in the state's recorded history. More than 600,000 people were displaced and infrastructure was damaged across nearly every municipality in the region, according to a report by Médecins Sans Frontières. Extreme weather conditions For the people of Muçum and its neighbouring cities, the focus quickly shifted from reacting to floods to preparing for them more effectively. Previous approaches had relied on manual observation and physical gauges. But such solutions, as they knew only too well, are unable to provide the kind of continuous, integrated, and real-time visibility that is so vital during extreme weather conditions. Instead, they needed to find a more reliable way to monitor river conditions, improve coordination during heavy rainfall, and communicate risks to residents earlier. Specifically, the municipal council of Muçum sought a technology solution that would: Deliver accurate, real-time water-level measurements Maintain operation during severe floods Support automatic alerts and emergency communication Centralise monitoring and historical data analysis Water-level monitoring solution To support these goals, the council worked with system integrator Infosat and distributor Tecline to deploy Hikvision’s intelligent water-level monitoring solution. Hikvision’s 4 MP Water-Level Detection Network Speed Dome (DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL40(F1)(LA)) has been installed on a bridge above the river. Combining video imaging and millimetre-wave radar technology in a single device, the solution allows operators to visually monitor river conditions while simultaneously receiving highly accurate water-level measurements in real time. Preparing nearby communities Unlike traditional gauges positioned close to the water, the radar-based system can measure water levels from distances of up to 40 meters. This elevated installation approach helps ensure continuous operation even during major floods, when conventional equipment may become submerged or damaged. The solution’s millimetre-level precision allows emergency teams to detect even small changes in water levels and receive alerts when predefined thresholds are reached. With earlier visibility into changing conditions, emergency teams gain valuable time to evaluate risks, coordinate response actions, and prepare nearby communities. Challenging lighting environments The device delivers 4 MP high-quality imaging, allowing operators to visually confirm river conditions in real time. Its 120 dB WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) technology helps maintain clear images in challenging lighting environments, while the IP67-rated housing supports reliable outdoor performance during harsh weather. The integrated 4G connectivity and low-power design also simplify deployment in critical monitoring locations. To strengthen public communication, the municipality also deployed five Hikvision Network Horn Speakers (DS-QAZ1325G1T) in higher-risk neighbourhoods. Installed in areas where floodwaters can rise quickly, the speakers broadcast evacuation warnings and emergency notifications when necessary, enabling them to reach residents rapidly and directly. Real-time monitoring The entire solution is centrally managed on HikCentral Professional. Through the platform, operators can: Monitor water-level changes in real time Manage alarms and emergency alerts Review live video feeds remotely Access historical statistics for flood analysis and planning Since the deployment, the Municipality of Muçum has reported an 80% increase in the accuracy of water-level information compared with previous manual readings. Real-time monitoring and automated alerts now help emergency teams respond more proactively while improving communication with residents during critical situations. Mateus Giovanoni Trojan, the former Mayor of Muçum, said: “The Hikvision solution brings us more reliable information and enables us to respond faster. Automatic alerts help our emergency teams act earlier and improve safety for the population.” Creating a smarter foundation The benefits also extend beyond Muçum itself. Data collected from the monitoring system helps support neighbouring municipalities across the Taquari Valley, contributing to regional preparedness efforts that affect around 100,000 residents. “For nearby communities like ours, earlier information can make a huge difference,” said Luis Maya, Emergency Coordinator for the Municipality of Lajeado. “It helps emergency teams react faster and keep people safe.” Today, Muçum’s story is no longer only about overcoming floods; it is about building resilience through technology, coordination, and preparedness. By deploying Hikvision’s AIoT (AI-powered Internet of Things) technologies, the municipality has created a smarter foundation for flood response across the Taquari Valley. As climate challenges continue to evolve, Muçum is showing how AIoT technologies can help communities respond earlier, act faster, and face the future with greater confidence.

Gozoki, a French family-owned company and pioneer in the freshly prepared meals market (Maison Briau, Maison Tino and other brands), has taken the step of investing to secure its industrial sites. At its facilities in Agen, the company now benefits from a state-of-the-art video surveillance system deployed by specialist integrator SDP, using Hanwha Vision hardware and software solutions. Production sites in the food manufacturing sector face stringent requirements for security, access control and traceability. Protecting staff, preventing intrusions, monitoring logistics flows and securing sensitive areas all present significant challenges. Present significant challenges As part of its ongoing commitment to improving its infrastructure, Gozoki began modernising its surveillance system in 2025 to enhance reliability, accuracy and responsiveness. “We needed a system capable of operating 24/7 in a demanding environment while delivering outstanding image quality. The Hanwha Vision solution meets these requirements perfectly,” says Nicolas Jeannesson, buildings and energy manager at Gozoki. To deliver the project, Gozoki selected SDP, a company renowned for its expertise in integrating electronic security solutions. SDP carried out the site survey, designed the network architecture, installed the equipment and completed its advanced configuration. The objective was to deliver a robust, scalable solution perfectly suited to the demands of a challenging industrial environment. “Our role is to provide a turnkey solution that is reliable and built to last. Hanwha Vision cameras enable us to deliver high levels of performance while simplifying maintenance,” says Pierre Albanese, managing director of SDP. Video analytics capabilities The cameras SDP and Gozoki chose to install were Hanwha Vision’s, and were selected for their exceptional image quality, even in challenging conditions, thanks to high-resolution sensors and WDR technologies. Advanced video analytics capabilities that enable intrusion detection, intelligent management of sensitive areas, and behavioural analysis, were also key features that Gozoki required. The reliability and durability of Hanwha Vision’s cameras are essential in industrial environments that are subject to fluctuations in temperature, humidity or lighting, such as Gozoki’s sites. Enhanced cybersecurity - a critical factor in preventing the risk of cyber attacks on connected systems - was also a vital element of the project’s requirements. The installed cameras cover all strategic areas, including vehicle entrances, loading bays, storage areas, internal traffic routes and external perimeters. “The integrated video analytics allow us to go far beyond simple monitoring. We now have a decision-support tool capable of anticipating risk situations,” adds Nicolas Jeannesson of Gozoki. Future regulatory requirements With the planned deployment of nearly 200 cameras across multiple sites around Agen, Gozoki now benefits from a modern video surveillance system that supports the company’s growth while meeting current and future regulatory requirements. “This project perfectly illustrates our commitment to supporting our customers over the long term with reliable, scalable technologies,” concludes Pierre Albanese. Together, SDP and Hanwha Vision delivered Gozoki a cohesive, high-performance and scalable solution, providing a clear, centralised view of security across its facilities.