NEC to Provide Facial Comparison Technology to Unisys for Entry Screening at JFK
NEC Corporation of America says it is working with Unisys [UIS] to provide Customs and Border Protection with facial comparison technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport to improve the entry process for air travelers by accurately assuring their identity. NEC says that Unisys has integrated the company’s NeoFace Match facial recognition software into the overall biometric arrival solution. NEC says the identity verification solution will apply to first time Visa Waiver Program travelers and returning U.S. citizens with e-Passports. “Recent successful tests in high traffic security screening venues proved the ability of the system to efficiently and accurately perform one-to-one facial image comparisons,” says Amy Rall, group vice president for the Department of Homeland Security practices at Unisys Federal. Unisys is the systems integrator for CBP’s facial comparison testing at JFK. The company is also using Vision-Box’ VB E-Pass Desktop solution to help manage the biometric checks of travelers arriving to the airport from international departure points.
AlliedBarton, Universal Services to Merge
Security services companies AlliedBarton Security Services and Universal Services of America have agreed to merge, creating what they way will be the leading security company in North America. AlliedUniversal, as the company will be known, is expected to have annual sales of about $4.5 billion, about 140,000 trained security officers, and technology solutions. Steve Jones, CEO of Universal, will service as CEO of the combined company., and Bill Whitmore, CEO of AlliedBarton, will be chairman. “Through this combination with Universal Services of America, we expect to deliver tremendous value to our clients through access to Universal’s portfolio of technology-based security solutions,” says Whitmore. In addition to its security services, Universal specializes in custom CCTV surveillance, intrusion detection, and access control security systems. Universal has annual sales of $2.5 billion. AlliedBarton is a portfolio company of the investment firm Wendel SE and Universal is a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus and Partners Group. Under terms of the deal, Wendel would received 33 percent of the shares of AlliedUniversal and a cash payment of about $387 million. Warburg Pincus will owns 33 percent of the shares of the new company and Partners Group 17 percent. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter subject to regulatory approvals.
Olea Announces See-Through Wall Technology
Olea Sensor Networks has introduced OleaVision, a see-through wall system that is lightweight and smaller than a smartphone and can detect a living being at a distance of 3 to 4 meters from the target wall surface. The Nevada-based company says its OleaVision technology will enable first responders, armed forces and security personnel to save more lives by quickly identifying people in search and rescue operations as well as identifying the presence of adversaries without risking exposure. The company says OleaVision, which will be available in August, will have a price point under $500 per unit.
Convergint Acquires Video Security Firm Total Recall
Integrated building systems security provider Convergint Technologies has acquired the video-centric security firm Total Recall, expanding its capabilities into custom solutions with open networking standards as well as new customers and expertise in complex metropolitan environments. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Total Recall specializes in surveillance solutions, including command and control centers, wireless connectivity and video network design and management. The company services municipal governments, businesses and organizations. “Total Recall extends Convergint’s capabilities in supporting highly sophisticated citywide networks, and we are thrilled to have their team of expert to joint Convergint Nation,” says Dan Moceri, executive chairman of Convergint.
Altamira Acquires Cyber Operations Firm Prime Solutions
Altamira Technologies Corp. has acquired Prime Solutions, LLC, a provider of various cyber operation services to customers in the intelligence community. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ted Davies, president and CEO of Northern Virginia-based Altamira, says about Prime Solutions that “Their strong focus on the success of their people and their customers fits perfectly with our culture. We look forward to bringing their significant cyber operations capabilities across the breadth of our portfolio of customers and to broadening and deepening our relationship with the National Security Agency through them.” Prime Solutions is based near the NSA in Columbia, Md. The company’s services include system vulnerability analysis, reverse engineering, network engineering and defense, CNO software development, malware analysis, defensive vulnerability analysis, mission system support, and enterprise software through agile processes.
Coast Guard Accepts Seventh Missionized HC-130J
The Coast Guard has accepted delivery of its seventh Lockheed Martin [LMT] missionized HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft. The missionization includes integrated radar, sensor and communication systems that enable the aircraft to perform its missions. The aircraft was fitted with the legacy system in use on the five operational HC-130Js in the Coast Guard fleet. And eighth HC-130J is finishing the missionization process and delivery is expected later this year. These will be the last two aircraft outfitted with the legacy mission system prior to the Coast Guard upgrading to the Navy’s Minotaur mission system processor, which allows the Coast Guard to standardize its entire fixed-wing fleet while replacing increasingly obsolete components. Two HC-130Js are undergoing the Minotaur upgrades now with delivery of the baseline configuration aircraft beginning in 2017.
GD Commercial Cyber Services Expands Capabilities to Industrial Control Systems
General Dynamics [GD] is expanding its commercial cyber security monitoring services to include industrial controls, providing its private sector customers with a more comprehensive service offering. “We are committed to providing the commercial market with the military-grade services they need to effectively monitor and protect their business,” says Bernie Guerry, senior vice president of the Intelligence Solutions Division at General Dynamics Information Technology. “The expansion into the protection of industrial controls is one way we are meeting this emerging need.” GD’s Commercial Cyber Services business will use an Industrial Network Anomaly Detection system with its security operations centers (SOCs) that provide around-the-clock cyber security monitoring for its customers. In a separate release, the cyber security firm NexDefense said it is providing its Sophia industrial network security monitoring and anomaly detection system to GD’s business unit for the industrial control systems (ICS) monitoring. GDs commercial cyber unit provides cyber security as a service to its customers. GD in the spring of 2015 sold its commercial cyber security products business, Fidelis Cybersecurity, to the private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners to focus on its core government customers. GD says it operates 15 SOCs and critical incident response teams across multiple continents. The small Commercial Cyber Services business grew out of cyber security support the company does for the intelligence community.