Some of the most popular and enduring stories in science are big moments of discovery. Think of Archimedes running naked through the streets of Syracuse yelling “Eureka!” after he discovered the principle of buoyancy while taking a bath; or Isaac Newton developing the law of gravity after being hit on the head by an apple; or Alexander Fleming discovering penicillin in an accidentally contaminated Petri dish.
These stories may not all be true. Archimedes almost certainly didn’t actually leap out of the bath and run down the road without any clothes on, and Newton’s apple is probably an exaggeration too — but that doesn’t matter.
They’re still being told because we’re attracted to the idea that brilliant minds can break apart mysteries in a momentary flash of inspiration, and that huge leap forward can be made in the space of a second.
Eureka moments do happen, but they’re extremely rare. Mostly, scientific progress is laborious and is created by teams of people rather than individuals working alone.
Partnership between 2N and Genetec
Our industry is not, of course, trying to discover truths about the inner workings of the universe, but a similar principle applies: no company can deliver the ideal solution for every customer every time, on its own —progress is often the result of companies coming together.
Companies like Genetec and 2N, a global leader in IP intercoms, recognize this because our businesses have been built on understanding and anticipating customer needs.
That’s why 2N uses an open protocol and develops products that can be integrated with those from other companies. It’s the only way to deliver the kind of fully comprehensive security systems that our customers are increasingly demanding.
2N is a certified technology partner of Genetec, and our collaboration is a great example of how integration can benefit customers. To illustrate the point, imagine for a moment that you’re head of security at a chemical plant or a school. What would your priorities be?
Prioritizing your security needs
First and foremost, you’d want to be sure that unauthorized people won’t be given access to your buildings’ most sensitive areas.
The first step is to ensure that access to all entry points can be monitored from a single location.
Second, you need to be able to immediately see who’s standing at the door, in high quality, even when it’s completely dark outside. You also need to be able to speak to the person at the door and understand what they’re saying, even if there’s background noise.
If necessary, you might also need to be able to record video, zoom in with the camera, or switch between individual cameras to follow the movement of a person of interest.
Additional key factors to consider when securing your organization
Emergency planning may sometimes be necessary, so reliability will be a prime concern too. As well as needing to be able to lock down specific doors, areas, or entire buildings remotely and instantaneously, which requires a highly durable, vandal-proof system.
You wouldn’t only be thinking about worst-case scenarios, though. It’s also crucial to maintain efficiency, convenience, and making the right first impression on visitors.
You’ll want to be able to handle and transfer all calls via one simple interface and, if an employee forgets their card, you’ll want to be able to let them in quickly, without a hassle. And all through beautifully designed technology which saves the cost of a reception service.
The interconnection of 2N’s products with the Genetec Security Center system allows you to do all of these things, and we’ve focused on making the integration incredibly simple to set up and manage. Neither company is a fan of lengthy, tedious written manuals.
Instead, we’ve developed a video manual that abridges everything you need to know in the most user-friendly format possible.
User case example: Binghamton University
A recent example of this kind of solution is through Binghamton University, the State University of New York. It has a very large campus – 120 buildings covering 930 acres – which is home to more than 18,000 students. In light of the increased number of security incidents at universities across the U.S., Binghamton University needed to upgrade its aging analog surveillance camera and door access system so that it could manage incidents as they were occurring; not simply respond after they’d happened.
The integrated system they chose incorporated a Genetec Omnicast video management system and Axis security cameras, with work currently underway to add video IP intercoms from 2N. Once it’s finished, it’ll give the university a completely unified Security Center.
The future of integration and collaboration in the industry
We’re going to see more and more integrations of this kind because they’re the most innovative, effective solutions out there.
It shows that Darwin’s conclusion about nature mentioned at the very beginning of this piece — that collaboration is at the heart of species’ success — is also true in our industry. Strong partnerships like the one 2N has with Genetec, help us grow by allowing us to meet the growing demand for smarter, more comprehensive access solutions. It’s where the future of our industry lies.