Security Equipment News from Lebanon. A look into CCTV, counter-terrorism, public safety, fire fighting, VIP protection, intruder detection, access control, security locks, safes, automatic gates, surge and lightning protection...
Face recognition has been around as early as the 1960s - in the beginning the systems were protected by patent rights, so not much advancements were noted. Later on, a huge amount of investments were pouring in on what seemed to be a promising venture.
Until today, face recognition biometrics are still referred to as the "future of biometrics". A lot of progress was noted in the last years. The use of high-resolution 3D imaging, (coupled with the advancement in camera technology) with iris recognition and lighting control has shown marvelous results - as low as 0.01 false alarm in comparison to human face recognition (FRGC, 2006) Now, you would not have considered using humans as a benchmark had you been measuring fingerprint metrics, would you?
The fact of the matter is, that coupled with the CCTV technology, face recognition has shown disastrous results, based on recent US and UK researches. As for access control, face recognition can now be applied to commercial use only, with limited ability in providing security. Research is still under way. How much longer?
In the US, Insurance firms are forced by law to consider an eminent discount to anyone who resorts to security equipment, from surveillance, to burglar and fire detection, ranging between 5 % and 20 % on the yearly policy. Not in Lebanon. Could it be because of ignorance, or simply because of government disinterest in public safety?
...So you might think the return on investment when it comes to security equipment in Lebanon is null. Wrong, at least for the commerical sector.
There are synergies between security applications and other business processes which are crucial for a company‘s value, based on a study by Knights and Pretty. After looking into companies that previously faced major security issues. The findings were striking.
Within a year, those that had taken adequate security measures could increase their company's value by an average of 30%. On the other hand, the company value sank by an average of 20% for the firms that had not invested in proper secuirty measures.
At the end of the day, a company's proper operations cannot be altered by security issues. Your customer does not have to bear with you your shortcomings in security investment, and most likely, he will not.
Saturday August 28, 2010 – I am looking up a name on Google.
Results show three book entries “Who’s Who in Lebanon, volume: 12”, “Who’s who in Lebanon: Volume 13”, as well as “Le Genie Libanais” (meaning “The Lebanese Genius” in French). Among the search results, figure references in the local web portal Naharnet, renowned French Journal Le Figaro, and LATimes.
Born in Tripoli, Lebanon on September 17th, 1948, he completed his high school education at the Christian school “College des frères” in Tripoli. He was never far from the Lebanese military, as his brother was a military Aviator, who, at age 24, fell as a Lieutenant martyr in the honor field. Sami was 13 years old at this time, and this only reinforced his patriotic feel. He grew up to follow his brother’s footsteps. He graduated from the military school and joined the Internal Security Forces, and was later selected to join the Judiciary Police.
In 1974, he was selected and followed intense courses at the FBI National Academy, at Quantico, State of Virginia, USA, where he gained a wide knowledge in security equipment.
He served in the Internal Security Forces for 14 years, marked with bravery and patriotic commitment. Among his accomplishments was securing the headquarters of the Internal Security Forces where were safeguarded historically and nationally valuable documents and archives.
He, then, quit at age 33, becoming the first and youngest to ever resign from the Lebanese Police. The truth of the matter: the idealist, that he is, could no longer tolerate the atrocities of the war, the security compromises that were taking place nor the personal political interests that he was witnessing.
With the support of his wife, Leila Hawi Zod, a graduate from the first class (in 1972) of business students from USJ(one of the most renowned private universities in Lebanon), he initiates a business venture. It was 1977; Zod Security sees the light of day, the first company of its kind in Lebanon, covering all the protection needs.
Focused on advising, selling and installing security equipment, Zod Security was initially located in Beirut’s Sami Solh Street. The couple lived in Antelias at the time, a home, which for a while, served as an emergency office during the Lebanese war’s heavy clashes.
For several years, Sami headed to London to attend the “International Fair of Security Systems” and got acquainted with international security firms. After having established itself as a market leader, Zod Security gained exclusive representation for more than 30 international security brands which it introduced to the Lebanese market.
Its suppliers were always bedazzled at the Lebanese people’s resilience and capacity to go on, despite the wars, and permanent clashes headlines in world news. An employee noted the account of a Swedish supplier who insisted on visiting the premises, unaware of the threats he was facing. He figured, if the Lebanese could do it, so could he. At his arrival he was baffled by the proximity of the risk to the operations; and left with utter admiration of the Lebanese people.
In order to continuously serve the market, Sami had to resort to the sea at times, using different types of boats, not necessarily set for travel purposes, heading to Cyprus airport, the sole link to the rest of the world in times of troubles.
With a strong faith in Lebanon, Sami and Leila Zod invested their future, with a firm entrepreneurship spirit and a relentless belief in God. Despite the permanent threats, Zod grew to open offices in Hamra and Tripoli, and its activity spread to cover all of the Lebanese territory. The couple refused numerous opportunities to abandon their country and live abroad. They were convinced that in foreign lands, “a man is only an added number”; nowhere else would they ever find this human fraternity that exists in Lebanon.
Today, from the heart of Lebanon, Zod Security operates with more than 50 employees, 850 square meters of warehouse, big offices with a breath-taking sea-view and a newly renovated showroom located in Dbayeh. Zod Security is ISO 9001:2008 certified and adheres to strict standards of quality. It holds a position of authority and expertise, with more than 30 years of experience and an inexorable list of references, in providing security from counter-terrorism, surveillance equipment and CCTV, alarms, army and police equipment, public safety, fire fighting, access control, locks, safes, gates, lightning protection and more. In addition, it has a sister company Zod International, an offshore, serving the entire Middle East, North African region and other developing countries.
Lebanon, Explosive Detection - These are just a sample of the many articles that have been written in the Lebanese magazines and newspapers regarding the antennas (rod) fraudulent explosive detectors that abound in Lebanon.
Other articles were written in Al Tamin, Future Newspaper, Annahar and live reports were filmed by LBC and Future TV.
However, this has not translated in any action on the ground. Companies like ABC,Biel, Storium Saliba and several parking lots still use this product... Don't they have any concern for their consumers' safety at all?
These are claimed to be explosive detectors, but what they are is antenna “gadgets”. These devices were the topic of scandals in the international security field. They were clearly identified as fraudulent by many worldly governments.
Even more revolting is a claim found on a Lebanese based company's website (I refrain from mentioning its name for ethical purposes):
“The range of detection is around 50 meters with obstacles and up to 650 meters in outdoor parking lots, the unit can also detect explosives submerged in water or buried underground. Detection from a hovering helicopter is also possible.”
Based on the US Navy and the US government related SANDIA laboratory reports, this equipment can’t even detect a highly relevant amount of explosives if it were right next to it! The NIJ (National Institute for Justice) report on explosive detectors only features half a page about these products... and the title starts with "WARNING".
Today, these products have invaded the Lebanese and Middle Eastern markets under different names: Mole, Sniffex, Alpha 6, Quadro Tracker, ADE series... etc. However, the device is the same: it is made of magnetic pieces that help sustain an antenna in a plastic case. There are no electronic components, no power source such as batteries, capacitors, solar panels, etc. The antenna swivels freely. It just pivots. All scientific claims that it can detect explosives have been disproved.
This phenomenon is clearly due to consumers’ ignorance, despite the existence of professional and effective explosive detectors in the market… Zod Secuirty had been trying to raise awareness on this issue for years now, but to no avail.
CCTV- When seeking a CCTV, you have to first understand what "CCTV" stands for. CCTV is the use of security cameras to transmit a signal to a set place, often used for security surveillance purposes. First understand, "why" do you seek a CCTV? CCTVs security camera systems have to fulfill and complement your need for security, a basic human need, as characterized by Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Thus, you need the CCTV system to be effective and operational. This takes a customized approach to the choice. Getting a high-tech, very expensive multi-functional system might be both a waste of resources, and too complex to operate. While the cheapest CCTV solution, might not offer the right resolution, angle or specs to serve your CCTV security needs. Therefore, you need to be very careful "what" CCTV you are installing as well as "how" it is actually installed. In addition, when it comes to security, you might as well pay close attention to company continuity and after-sales service for your maintenance. It takes both experience and knowledge to give a proper CCTV security solution. As the slogans launched by Zod Security goes "don't gamble with security" and "security systems are not allowed to fail". Entrust your decision to a CCTV expert, and given their strong stance in the CCTV security market, you might want to rely on firms like Zod Security.
