A security feature that prevents a credential from being used twice to enter an area without an intervening exit.

A security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of an individual to verify identity.

An object or data point used to verify the identity of a person seeking access to a protected area.

The hardware 'brain' that makes the decision to grant or deny access based on data from the reader.

A locking device that consists of an electromagnet and an armature plate, held together by magnetic force.

Terms describing how a lock behaves during a power failure: Fail-Safe unlocks; Fail-Secure stays locked.

A security system that requires more than one method of authentication from independent categories of credentials.

A contactless smart card used for access control that is read without being inserted into a reader device.

A device that signals the access control system to unlock a door for someone exiting a secure area.

The industry-standard communication protocol used between a card reader and an access control panel.

Bitrate is the amount of data processed per unit of time in a video stream, usually measured in Mbps.

Frame Rate refers to the number of individual frames or images that are displayed per second in a video stream.

H.265 (HEVC) is a video compression standard that provides high-quality video at lower bitrates than its predecessor H.204.

A mechanical shutter that blocks or delivers infrared light to provide true color reproduction during the day.

An Internet Protocol (IP) camera is a digital video camera that sends and receives data via a network or the Internet.

An NVR is a specialized computer system that records video in a digital format to a disk drive from IP cameras.

ONVIF is a global industry forum that facilitates the development of a global standard for the interface of IP-based physical security products.

PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras allow operators to remotely control the direction and zoom of the lens.

VMS is the 'brain' of a surveillance system, used to manage, record, and view video feeds.

WDR is a technology used in CCTV to handle scenes with high contrast between light and dark areas.

Capital Expenditure (buying) vs. Operational Expenditure (leasing/running costs).

The choices available to a lessee when a lease agreement concludes.

The price that an asset would sell for on the open market.

A type of lease in which the finance company is typically the legal owner of the asset for the duration of the lease.

The date on which the lessee begins to have the right to use the underlying asset.

An overarching contract that controls the terms for multiple individual lease schedules.

A contract that allows for the use of an asset but does not convey ownership rights of the asset.

The intervals at which lease payments are made, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually.

The estimated value of a fixed asset at the end of its lease term.

Non-tangible costs associated with an equipment acquisition, such as installation, training, and maintenance.

A specific area or circuit monitored by the alarm system, allowing for precise identification of an intrusion.

A facility staffed 24/7 that receives and responds to alarm signals from security systems.

The central processing unit of an intruder alarm system that monitors inputs and triggers outputs.

A motion detector that combines two different technologies, usually PIR and Microwave, to reduce false alarms.

A resistor placed at the end of a sensor circuit to allow the control panel to monitor for tampering or wire cuts.

An acoustic sensor designed to detect the specific frequency of breaking glass.

A sensor that detects motion by measuring changes in the infrared radiation (heat) emitted by objects.

An electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field, commonly used on doors and windows.

The act of intentionally bypassing a specific zone or sensor in an alarm system.

An alarm signal sent to the monitoring station without activating an audible siren at the protected premises.

A model of computer data storage in which the digital data is stored in logical pools on remote servers.

A system of communication where only the communicating users can read the messages.

A location-based service that triggers an action when a mobile device enters or leaves a virtual boundary.

A web-based service that allows users to create chains of simple conditional statements (applets) for smart devices.

The network of physical objects embedded with sensors and software for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data.

A message that pops up on a mobile device to alert the user of a security event.

A central device that connects and controls all smart devices on a home automation network.

An electromechanical lock which is designed to perform locking and unlocking operations when it receives instructions from an authorized device.

A wireless communications protocol used primarily for smart home automation.

An open global standard for wireless technology designed to use low-power digital radio signals.