Aiphone offers security communication systems providing versatile solutions for a range of industries. Our wide variety of reliable, high-quality products offers comprehensive security solutions for virtually any security need—large or small.
As leaders in our industry, it is our privilege to bring you perspectives and considerations from our pool of knowledgeable experts around topics related to technology, security, and business. Each week we will post new and timely answers to relevant topics.
9/21/20
Question of the Week: What is a common misconception about intercoms?
Author: Chris Ebert, Director of Sales Midwest
A: For Aiphone, the most common misconception about intercoms is in the name itself, “Intercom.“ By definition an Intercom is two-way communication within a building, small group of buildings, or vehicle that consists of a microphone and speaker for localized use. Modern intercoms like ours can bridge communication gaps by utilizing IP audio and video technology such as Cloud, SIP/VIOP, and ONVIF camera streams. This not only allows for visual communication between parties from almost anywhere in the world. It also creates a technology that complements a facility’s or campus’ security solution.
Author: Adam Reed, Director of Sales Western Regions
A: For those of us breathing intercoms day in and day out, what I’m about to say will not be a unique response. However, for many security professionals, it’s a common misconception to think that intercoms are not essential when presenting an access control solution. It was so wisely put to me many years ago, no access control solution should ever be presented to a customer without having had a serious discussion about intercoms. What should be done when their security credential fails? Who should a visitor call when they do not have a security credential? Whether this should be called a common misconception, or a common oversight, it remains staggering to hear how many access control providers often forget, or just do not bring up intercoms, in their access control conversations. Like water nourishing the body, intercoms complete the access control conversation.
Author: Joy Sweet, Senior Manager Technical and Customer Service
A: Having worked in the intercom business for over three decades, there are many misconceptions about what an intercom is. It might seem old fashioned, outdated, and unnecessary in today’s connected world. Yes, there are legacy analog intercoms that still serve a function and work well, but with designs from the 80s, they have their limitations. Because of the restrictions of traditional systems, it may seem like intercoms have outlived their usefulness, much like the typewriter.
Modern-day intercoms are nothing like their predecessors of 30 or 40 years ago. No longer are they limited in size, distance, and functionality. I remember the days of being limited to 3 entrances and 40 tenants in a video multi-tenant application. We used to be limited to one or two master stations and up to 80 audio only remote stations in a school or commercial application. Now pretty much the sky is the limit!
At their core, modern-day systems are still intercom systems, meaning a closed system not relying on external infrastructure to operate. However, the limits in size and distance are virtually gone. The advantages of using intercoms in today’s world multiply exponentially because of this, as limitations dissipate allowing applications and opportunities to flourish. With no monthly recurring costs, an intercom can provide needed communication between points where other forms of communication are not ideal. Adding to the security of a home or business, intercoms allow you to secure your location, which adds security for the people inside. They provide quick visual and audio communication with someone outside, or even the ability to just push a button and view various areas to make sure it is safe to go outside. Intercoms are a natural partner with video security and access control systems, all working together to give peace of mind to the people inside the secured area.
With the modern use of networks and the internet, I think there is a healthy and robust future for intercoms. Typewriters, not so much!
Author: Bob Fallon, Regional Sales Representative
A: Just how misconceptions are out there regarding video surveillance and access control the same holds true with intercom systems.
Throughout my many discussions with security integrators, A&Es, and especially, end–users of the equipment, there are four which are most common.
1) That intercom systems are just audio only and do not have video capabilities too. Just the name intercom, as defined, an electrical device allowing one-way or two-way communication, pretty much lends itself to some people thinking it is just for audio purposes.
2) That intercom systems do not have the ability to unlock doors, which indeed they can, and do so very effectively via a door strike or a maglock triggered by an output on the intercom system.
3) That intercom systems just provide entry security (2–way communication) to let in a visitor. At Aiphone, we have systems that not only provide this function with video and door release, but can also provide internal communication functionality (audio/video), paging, bell scheduling, and emergency/assistance capabilities.
4) Many still do not realize how robust and scalable an intercom system can be through integration/registration with other key security platforms that an end–user utilizes, such as VMS systems, access control systems, and even IP PBX (SIP) technology.
What this tells us as security experts, in trying every day to make an impact for a safer and secure world, is to not make assumptions on what is truly known about intercom technology.
9/14/20
Question of the Week: What does secure/security mean to you? What defines security?
Author: Paul Hefty, Technical Sales & Support Engineer II
A: What is security? Security is peace of mind. It is being aware of your surroundings and knowing everything is as it should be. To maintain this, we lock up our buildings and yards. We install cameras and alarms so to stay alert for intruders. To allow access for our coworkers, friends, delivery people, and customers we do business with, we install video intercoms. The video intercom allows us to securely identify who is at the door and determine their intentions. While having a secure location is important and provides peace of mind, it is also important to know when the pizza is delivered.
Author: Norbert Artur, Aiphone Corporation, Director of Sales Canada
A: Security for me is the ability to provide peace of mind to occupants in any type of environment: residential, educational, commercial, institutional, and more. It is the means we must provide everyone using a facility a way to feel secure and to conduct their activities without having to worry about the safety of their environment. In today’s world, having proper layers of security is paramount for the wellbeing of all. For me, what defines security is the ability to stop or deter crimes and to provide a safe environment for the occupants.
Author: Luke Romero, Regional Sales Representative Northwest
A: A place in which you have added total peace of mind and protection beyond your own senses, to detect and react to a concerning or dangerous event.
9/7/20
Question of the Week: What are common security gaps that need attention?
Author: Luke Romero, Regional Sales Representative Northwest
A: A common security gap is the ability to give someone temporary access to a building door, apartment, or residence for a designated period of time. Providing temporary access for a dog walker, house sitter, or delivery service is often requested to be time and date based, so even if you forget to remove access, the system will do it for you. Right now, while we can add access codes and give them out, this creates a huge security breach because those codes are permanent and will continue to work unless they are manually changed. Constantly updating a system can be inconvenient to owners and might include added fees (varies with their service contract).
Assigning temporary access is something I am constantly be asked for in mixed-use and multi–tenant buildings.
Author: Cody Graves, Regional Sales Representative, South Carolina, North Carolina
A: An all too common, but rarely addressed, security gap is clean system design or lack thereof.
Offhand this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but poor cable management, port labeling, hidden power supplies etc. can cause an end–user to leave malfunctioning or non-functioning system components untended resulting in a major security gap.
Many end–users have partially–functioning systems with cameras, card readers, intercoms, and other devices not working as intended. These go unrepaired because of the confusion regarding where the malfunction leads back to, where the power supply resides, or where to even begin troubleshooting.
This issue is more common with analog devices.
PoE IP devices can mitigate this challenge. All PoE stations cable back to a central switching location and can be pinged through the network to detect a malfunction. Without a power supply, and an infinite number of cable-pathways to search through, the process of troubleshooting a malfunction is streamlined.
Whether it be access control, video surveillance, or monitored entry via a video intercom device, IP options are available and will often lead to a more robust and easier system to service with fewer security gaps.
Author: Clark Landguth, Inside Sales & Support Manager
A: One common security gap is glass entryways that don’t control who comes in. Just because you can see who’s at the front door, do you really want to keep it unlocked or open? Even a simple audio–only intercom solution with a door release is a safer approach.
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