Gina Sansivero, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at AtlasIED tells SJA about the many benefits of mass communication systems for security.

Can you tell me about yourself and your role at AtlasIED?

I’m the Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at AtlasIED.

I’ve worked here for about six and a half years, and was brought on at a time when the company – which is now a 91-year-old company, then 86 – was transitioning from the leadership of a father to son.

It was a great opportunity to see a new vision and bring a reenergized brand to the security market, to show what we had up our sleeves.

How can security become more predictive?

There are a few ways we can help our security integrators and users be more preventative in their security processes and programs.

One of them is through AI-based video analytics, leveraging existing digital camera infrastructure by overlaying a software that, in real time, watches 24/7 for indicators or cues of any risks or threats.

A lot of people think of weapon detection when it comes to AI, and this is absolutely part of that portfolio, but AI can be so much more.

There are other threats and risks that are more common and hazardous, like slip and falls or trespassers, people or vehicles in areas they shouldn’t be or a leak from a ceiling that’s creating a puddle on the floor, which AI can be used to nullify.

It’s useful to have the ability to identify a security threat before the worst outcome happens and alert stakeholders to become more proactive.

Another aspect is access control.

At ISC West 2025, AtlasIED will be showcasing our new IP doorbell.

This solution provides a push button entry system – for example, an employee can enter a four-digit PIN code to gain access.

It also has RF, so you’re able to swipe in if you’re an employee, but if a guest requests entry, when it’s paired with one of our IP consoles, then the person at the front desk can see them and use the incorporated video to converse with them, granting or denying access.

If there is a perceived security threat from this guest then the office manager or receptionist can notify authorities or security personnel to remove the person from the premises without having to open the door for them at all.

But what happens if there is a threat already in the building?

All of these predictive systems are incorporated into our mass communication system, which is IP-based and connected to a central software, such as InformaCast.

This is connected to IP endpoints all over the building, which can provide visual and audible notifications both within and outside of the structure.

If an intruder does enter the building, then an authorized person can access the centralized hub from anywhere.

They can issue an alert that locks down the building, which can connect to door locks, other forms of access control or other security enabled devices and also send out a mass communication message.

This public address informs everybody inside and outside the building via speakers and in text form that there is a lockdown emergency situation.

It can tell them to remain where they are, lock doors and windows and find a safe place to stay until the next announcement.

A reliable communication system not only allows for a potential reduction in loss of life during urgent situations, but it can also help in some non-emergency scenarios.

For example, routine announcements can be made through the system, such as telling guests to keep an eye on their bags and possessions in a public venue.

Can you delve a bit deeper into how these systems are used both on premises and off premises?

Of course, our system can be deployed both in the interior of buildings and in outside areas – think courtyards or athletic fields.

However, let’s say there’s a security or safety incident occurring at a school.

Some of the teachers may have gone off the premises for their lunch break.

You don’t want them coming back onto campus and coming face to face with a hazard or threat.

Our system, the hub from InformaCast, allows for off-premise notifications, meaning a teacher or administrator on a different campus or out for lunch will get a notification on their desktop, laptop or mobile device.

It may tell them to remain off campus, the authorities have been notified and when they can come back.

It means that even if a stakeholder is not there, they are aware of what’s going on and they’re out of harm’s way.

What other benefits are there to this system?

There are quite a few! There are not a lot of emergency notification systems that are leveraged every day.

To use the example of a school again, usually there’s a fire drill or another kind of security drill several times a year and the emergency notification system is leveraged then, so which provides a good test of whether the system works or not.

However, in other situations, this might not be the case. Our system allows you to use it every day as a public address paging or intercom system.

So, you know if there are any issues immediately. You know if you can’t hear in a certain part of the building or if the speakers need to be replaced.

Likewise, if someone is hard of hearing then this provides an understanding of whether more visual cues are needed in certain areas.

Another example of our mass communication system being used to enhance daily operations is in a manufacturing plant.

It can be used as a scheduler to tell employees when breaks are and when they have a change in shift.

This improves business operations and efficiencies within the building.

Video analytics can also be utilized – if a security guard is required to be in a booth for ten hours a day, then video analytics software will detect if there is no person present for an extended period of time.

In this instance, a notification can be sent – without sounding like an urgent or emergency situation – so keep the right people in the right place at the right times.

How might these solutions evolve or grow? What’s on the horizon?

I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more interoperability in the future and partnerships will be key.

Solutions that have been substantially tested and proven in a lab as well as in the field will continue to be essential, but we’ll be seeing the industry focus much more on how solutions can be maintained and their longevity.

Likewise, intelligibility will be a significant focus, with all of these aspects coming together to create a holistic, completely integrated, proven, vetted, fully capable system of the future.