Convergence is the new buzzword. It is incorporation of information technology into traditional business processes to provide for more efficient management and operations. As well as increasing efficiency, convergence has slashed costs and enabled different business process components to interact dynamically.In security, convergence refers to the convergence of physical and IT security. This operates at two levels:
1. Threats are becoming increasingly “converged”, necessitating a joined-up physical/logical security approach.
2. Traditional stand-alone security systems are migrating to IT platforms and are becoming increasingly integrated.
It is essential that traditional “physical” security managers grasp the basics of IT system topology and operability in order to be able to effectively manage Ethernet-operated physical security systems.
Door locks represent one of the latest physical security systems to be “collapsed” over an IP/Ethernet network and integrated with video over IP. Furthermore, developments in "Power over Ethernet" mean that many of these systems increasingly will take their power from an Ethernet cable.
David will be happy to provide more detailed information on this subject.
