Author: Mike Proudfit

Titan Alarm has partnered with DSX Access Systems Inc. to offer advanced security and access control systems for businesses in Arizona.

Applications

Virtual Outputs
Virtual Outputs in the WinDSX system are outputs that do not physically exist but can be programmed in the same manner as any Relay Output in the system. Virtual Outputs can be used for Time Zone control, linking, process control, bell schedules, fail safe timers and many more applications.

First Man In
First Man In can be implemented to prevent doors that normally unlock on a schedule from unlocking when weather or other conditions prevent anyone from traveling to or occupying the location or building. The Time Zone that normally unlocks the door is overridden until a card is first used to gain access to the building. This could be a regular or manager assigned card at any reader or a particular one.

Manager First
Manager First can be used to keep other subordinate issued cards from gaining access to the building when the manager is not on site. Certain Access Levels would be disabled until a manager arrives and uses their card thereby enabling the Access Levels of the subordinates.

Two Man Rule
The Two Man Rule requires that two different cardholders use their card before they can gain access to a door. This could be set up for any two card holders or it could be taken a step farther so that a card holder from Group A and one from Group B must both use their card for the door to unlock.

Access Level Control
Access Level Control can restrict and/or change Access Levels on the card population without the need for lengthy downloads. This can be done for card control at a university that needs to shut off or restrict access to its student population during the holidays and will support different schedule requirements for the different classes of the student population. It can also be used in Threat Level Management to change the accessibility of the card holders.

Hazmat Lockdown
Today many Hospitals, health care agencies, and municipalities are faced with contingency planning for Hazmat Emergencies. Hazmat Lockdown accommodates the quick lockdown of a system required for Hazmat alerts. The Lockdowns occur without the need of programming or lengthy downloads. Hazmat Lockdowns will typically secure all the doors in an area or the entire facility not allowing anyone or just particular personnel access in or out.

Emergency Lockdowns
With the DSX system, doors can quickly be locked down from the keyboard, an external button, or even a card read. Access can be prevented or just limited to a select few card holders. This lockdown action can be custom fit to the particular needs of the customer.

Threat Level Management
With a click of a mouse, press of a button, or presentation of a Card, the system can be instantly reconfigured to coincide with the Homeland Security Advisory System and meet any heightened security requirements.

With a single action doors can be locked down, alarm points armed, readers disabled, access levels restricted, image recall invoked and more. The system can be made incrementally more secure with each action and just as quickly put back to normal. Components of the DSX system can be individually enabled or disabled to create the environment the situation requires.

DSX Threat Level Management can be customized to meet the specific needs of each customer.


Time Zone Control
Time Zone Control can quickly disable one Time Zone and/or enable another through Time Zone Linking. There are times when an application calls for multiple schedules to control cards or door locks with the ability to switch from one schedule to another without any programming or Time Zone reassignment. This action could be a manager card being used at a reader that switches a door from one locking schedule (Time Zone) to another or the clicking on an Output Icon in the Workstation program.

JetWay Extended Bypass
Airports sometimes require a means to discreetly bypass a door for more than a normal amount of time. When loading or unloading passengers the door can be bypassed for an extended amount of time by simply presenting the card twice to that reader. The door always locks as soon as it is closed. This ability is configurable by door and by card holder. It also works with Card+PIN readers.

Building Automation
This paper shows an over view of how WinDSX can be integrated into a single occupant or multitenant property at various levels with different systems.

Separate Alarm Outputs
This application shows a way to separate Door Forced from Door Held Open Alarms where the alarms are being transmitted offsite.

Clean Room Annunciation
In environments where a user wants to be aware that any two doors are open in an area. This application can be more than 2 doors and will provide an annunciation or lockout when two doors of concern are opened at the same time.

Man Trap
High Security Areas sometimes require a man trap application where there are typically two doors in a holding area or vestibule outside of a sensitive room. One door leads to the high security area while the other door leads to the non secured area. The application mandates that the two doors cannot be open or even unlocked at the same time. One door must shut and lock before the other door can unlock and open.

Occupancy Limit
An Occupancy Limit can be imposed on rooms where the number of people in the room have to be kept to a maximum number. Using a simple counter relay combined with linking this application is simple.

 

Learn More About Access Control

• Should I Upgrade My Access Control System?
• What is Access Control?

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 2, 2018.

What if robust physical security systems weren’t just for enterprises? What if they were for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), too?

The truth is that they are. Titan Alarm has partnered  Brivo Systems and offers physical security solutions aren’t just for the pioneering enterprises and companies with big bucks; they’re for everyone. Hackers and thieves don’t pay much attention to whether a company is an enterprise or owned by a sole proprietor – why should we?

We don’t. Products at Brivo are designed for adaptability, scalability, and budgets both large and small.

Adaptability

Brivo OnAir integrates into the coffee shop on the corner as easily as it does into the corporate conglomerate headquartered in Seattle. Because of the cloud, physical security can be for as few as one or two doors or as many as all the offices in the corporate headquarters.

The access control system adapts to its environment. The coffee shop owner needs a simple installation; the corporation requires a more complex one. Both solutions, however, are built upon the same framework.

Scalability

Coffee shops grow. They start with one location and expand to others. With Brivo OnAir, the coffee shop owner doesn’t have to worry about purchasing a physical security system for each new storefront. The cloud allows her to incorporate other sites. All she has to do is have some card readers installed at her newest shop, and she’s good to go.

Corporations also grow, sometimes globally. They sometimes have a need for a temporary office, too. Rather than attempt to purchase a physical security system overseas, the team at home expands access and security to the satellite location.

Budgets

Coffee shops and corporations do not have similar budgets. The former, particularly if it’s a new establishment, has much of its funds tied up in coffee beans, grinders, and all the other accoutrements. It needs an access control and security solution, but its budget is more or less limited. A corporation is likely to have a larger budget and possibly even to dedicate funds to identity and access management (IAM) and security.

Brivo OnAir, as well as our new HaaS program, work in both situations. Because it’s adaptive and scalable, the resources required are adaptive and scalable. In addition, many of the upfront costs are lower due to cloud management and computing. A final point: maintenance and costs are lower month-over-month and year-over-year, making the return on investment (ROI) greater and total cost of ownership (TCO) lower.

Want to learn more about how Titan Alarm and  Brivo OnAir can work in your specific environment? Give us a call!

 

Learn More About Commercial Security

• What Security System Should I Get for a Rental Property?
• Commercial Security Needs
• How to Avoid Scams That Target Business

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 2, 2018.

Protecting employees, customers and property from the devastation of a fire is not on the moral obligation of a business owner, but it’s a requirement of the law. Failure to properly inspect your fire systems on a routine basis can lead to failures in the system, resulting in devastating losses for your business and potential fees and legal action from your local government. Its important to hire a professional inspector who not only understands the law, but also how to properly install and maintain the highest quality fire protection equipment in the optimal way for you location.

 

It’s the Law

 

In order to ensure that your fire alarm system is working properly it is required to be tested and inspected by a licensed fire alarm inspection company. This is required by law and should be performed at least once a year. Licensed inspectors will perform the required testing and inspection, provide a detailed inspection report, and can perform repairs on any noted deficiencies.

 

Most jurisdictions require at minimum an annual inspection by a licensed, certified fire inspector. Fire laws vary from state to state. In Arizona businesses are governed by state and local municipal fire codes and require fire inspections at least once per year and always when starting new construction projects or major renovations.

 

Failure to comply with the state and local codes to inspect your business properly can result in work freezes that can shut down your construction project or freeze your business activates. This along with fines for lack of compliance can cripple your ability to do business.

 

Legal information pertaining to your business can be obtained by visiting the websites for local, state and county fire marshals office. Projects and businesses operating at the federal level may also be subject to federal fire laws and codes.

 

Hiring a licensed fire inspection company is the best way to insure you are complying with all the applicable laws and is often required.

 

 

It’s the Right thing to Do

 

Protecting the safety of your employees, your property and assets is always the main objective of a fire inspection. Small problems can quickly lead to giant ones in a fire protection system and a fire is unforgiving event often resulting in great damage if the right systems are not functioning to prevent it and monitor for it. A yearly fire inspection is a great way to identify possible trouble areas.

 

Often basic code compliance does not mean optimal fire protection. Hiring a licensed fire inspector will also give you insight into how your system is functioning and what areas need work or improvement and can guide you in actions you can take to prevent problems with your systems, such as preventive maintenance for your fire system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn More About Testing & Inspection

• Fire Alarm Inspections
• Fire Alarm Testing

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.