Author: Kathleen Kiernan

Thinking Faster than the Speed of Threat: NEC Labs and NEC National Security Systems

Posted by Kathleen Kiernan on Posted in Biometrics, Government, Security Tagged , , ,

Henry Ford famously said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

By: Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems, and Dr. Chris White, President of NEC Labs America

This quote goes to the heart of the combined mission and unique collaborations between NEC National Security Systems (NSS) and NEC Laboratories America (NEC Labs). Not only are the powerhouse research and development (R&D) organizations delivering advanced technologies supporting U.S. Government agencies and the Intelligence Community, their industry-leading researchers are also hard at work creating solutions for future threats.

Problems to Solve vs. Products to Sell
“There’s an extraordinary synergy between NSS and NEC Labs that drive us to build bleeding-edge solutions for problems that are unsolved right now,” says Dr. Christopher White, President of NEC Labs.

NEC NSS leverages 124 years of NEC’s rich history of innovation and service to the U.S. Government with scientific curiosity, a robust R&D budget, and flexibility to rapidly prototype custom solutions. U.S. Government agencies trust NSS’s technology to identify both current and emergent threats and recognize suspicious patterns in the noise of the data.

NEC Labs is the U.S.-based center for NEC Corporation’s global network of corporate research laboratories. The diverse research groups collaborate with industry, academia, and governments to provide disruptive solutions to complex problems.

"As an industrial lab, we bring together smart researchers with diverse perspectives and expertise, challenge them with hard, real-world customer problems, and the result is new technologies and innovations that can disrupt the status quo and change the world,” added Dr. White.

Did You Know
NEC Corporation invests an estimated $1.01 billion annually in R&D, holds 47,000 patents, and has more than 110,000 employees in 160+ countries.

Asu
“In the spirit of ‘asu,’ the Japanese word for tomorrow, we’re not simply solving today’s problems and safeguarding public safety in the present,” says Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NSS. “Our teams are creating a safer tomorrow and a series of tomorrows. We’re thinking and innovating faster than the speed of threat.”

Streamlining Safety and Security with Optical Networking and Sensing
One area of particular focus is providing an early warning of potential threats to law enforcement and government agencies. Utilizing capabilities that see and hear a threat—including natural disasters and patterns of criminal activity—and deploying resources and capabilities immediately can save lives, and protect critical infrastructure.

NEC’s Optical Fiber Sensing technologies identify people, objects, and events in a wide range of environments. NEC combines world-class expertise in transoceanic fiber-optic transmission and machine learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced distributed fiber-optic sensing technologies to create a solution that provides unobtrusive, low-maintenance detection capabilities.

In addition, NEC Labs is leading world-class research into the next generation of optical networks and sensing systems that will power ICT-based solutions for years to come. From forward-looking theoretical studies and cutting-edge experiments to world- and industry-first technology field trials, NEC Labs delivers globally recognized innovation that looks into the future and translates it into present reality.

Real-world Solutions
One might think, “All this sounds great, but how does it help keep my community safe?” Great question. One real-world example of the efficiencies of optical networking and sensing is roadway monitoring. By placing a fiber sensing box connected to underground fiber running the length of the road, you can monitor a 100-kilometer roadway! With that single system, the location of each vehicle can be detected, along with their speed, weight, how much noise they’re making and more—all to assist in identifying accidents and anticipating threats to public safety – and in real-time.

fiber-optic sensing

Compare optical networking and sensing with traditional traffic cameras. Approximately 1,000 cameras would be required to monitor that same 100-kilometer roadway. Those cameras need power, wired or wireless network link, plus synchronization of images being captured.

NEC’s advanced optical networking and sensing yields not only greater monitoring capabilities to enable faster response times, but the technology also offers substantial cost management and operational efficiency.

“The powerful collaboration between NSS and NEC Labs is taking public safety and security to a new level of innovation,” adds Dr. Kiernan. “We embrace new ideas and input from myriad businesses and viewpoints, driving us to discover dual-use capabilities and new use cases. There’s no question our commitment to ethical and moral values and our dedication to excellence has earned the trust of the Intelligence Community and government agencies. We are always mission focused and driven to provide solutions to those on the front lines, virtual and physical of emergent threat.”

To learn more about NEC National Security Systems’ advanced security solutions, please visit necnss.com.

For more information about NEC Laboratories America, please visit NEC-Labs.com.

NEC National Security Systems’ Homeland Security Achievements Recognized at 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards

Posted by Kathleen Kiernan on Posted in Biometrics, Government, Law Enforcement, Security Tagged ,

NEC National Security Systems (NSS) was proud to be the platinum sponsor of the seventh annual American Security Today ‘ASTORS’ awards ceremony where the team received multiple awards for security-enhancing product solutions.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program honors distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit, and intelligence to end-users in a variety of government, homeland security, enterprise, and public safety vertical markets.

“‘ASTORS’ nominations are evaluated on their technical innovation, interoperability, specific impact within the category, the overall impact to the industry, relatability to other industry technologies, and application feasibility outside of the industry,” said AST’s Editorial Director, Tammy Waitt.

NEC NSS received awards across a range of categories relating to security technology, in addition to the Extraordinary Leadership and Innovation Award. Awards were also received for Best Vehicle Security Entrance Control Solution, Best Facial/Iris Recognition Solution, Best Perimeter Protection System, Best Mobile Security Solution, Best Biometric Reader Solution, and Best Access Control & Authentication System.

NEC NSS received awards for the following technologies:

These technologies leverage a variety of tools, including artificial intelligence, biometrics, optical fiber sensing and more, to recognize persons of interest, secure military installations and other government facilities, and provide greater efficiency in security practices.

Over two hundred representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders, came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines, and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for generations to come.

These awards are a clear indication that NEC NSS technology is second to none when it comes to equipping our nation with needed tools to advance public safety and protect the homeland. Whether it be our intelligent detection systems, secure and accurate face recognition technology, or one of our many other trusted solutions, NEC is the gold standard for using 21st-century tools to defend the homeland and orchestrate a brighter world.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which came out in force to discuss comprehensive collaborations between private and public sectors that have led to the development of intelligence and technologies which serve to protect our nation.

Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane Sabatino, of the Office of Field Operations (OFO) for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), delivered the keynote address, speaking to the latest technology systems protecting our borders and homeland. AST was joined by former NYPD Police Commissioner,  William Bratton, NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, FDNY Assistant Chief Joseph Jardin, a contingency of CBP Officers, FDNY members, and the NYPD Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU).

We are proud of the NEC NSS team’s recognition and are looking forward to next year.

To learn more about NEC National Security Systems’ advanced security solutions, please visit necnss.com.

Truly Open, Truly Trusted at Identity Week 2022

Posted by Kathleen Kiernan on Posted in Analytics, Biometrics, Cloud, Conference, Customer Experience, Government, Law Enforcement, Security Tagged , , , , , , ,

In the spirit of “asu,” the Japanese word for tomorrow, NEC was proud to be the title sponsor for Identity Week as we look forward to the future of digital identity and biometrics.

Formerly known as Connect ID, Identity Week connects identity professionals from across government, finance, retail, eCommerce, health care, and travel. More than 1,000 attendees from around the world were at the event in October at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

Kicking off Identity Week, David Pekoske, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), shared staggering numbers. On Labor Day weekend, 8.76 million travelers were screened by TSA. That’s up 102% from pre-pandemic levels. To effectively screen the growing number of passengers, TSA will deploy more biometric technology so that travelers have safe and seamless experiences.

Administrator Pekoske also gave us insight into the TSA Innovation Task Force’s plan for an upcoming “innovation doctrine” that will help guide future technology projects to integrate new hardware and software. This forward-thinking approach to digital transformation will ensure that travelers have a safe and convenient “curb-to-gate” travel experience in airports.

Mind the Trust Gap
I was honored to present the opening keynote, “Mind the Trust Gap,” spotlighting digital ID within the federal and aviation sectors.

NEC’s vision of being truly open, and truly trusted is one of our strengths as a 123-year-old company. We continuously look to asu (tomorrow) and the possibilities of the future, prioritizing trust, security, and seamless experiences. I challenged the audience to not only build on current technologies but to also widen our aperture and think about the threats of tomorrow. Asu is NEC’s commitment to outside-the-box thinking to develop solutions at the speed of need.

Convergence of Online and Offline ID
“Decentralized ID is our vision for secure, self-sovereign, and standardized digital ID.” NEC Vice President Micah Willbrand gave the summit speech on the convergence of online and offline identities, the evolution toward decentralized digital ID, and how it’s being used in retail, aviation, and other applications. He stressed that the public sector should look toward the private sector as more consumers demand streamlined experiences.

Digital-Enabled Citizen Experiences
Austin Park, Director for NEC National Security Systems (NEC NSS), participated on a panel about digitally enabled citizen experiences. Austin predicts, “Decentralized identity will become much more prevalent in the next five years due to its privacy-by-design nature.”

Beyond Digital Identity
NEC Labs President Chris White led a seminar pointing out the importance of “applying real-time methods of sensing people and the environment to make accurate and efficient authentication systems.” NEC Labs is the U.S.-based center for NEC Corporation’s global network of research laboratories. NEC NSS and NEC Labs work in tandem on innovative biometric solutions.

Harnessing AI to Enhance Customer Experience
NEC Labs also invited attendees to try their luck with our AI-driven golf putt analyzer. Executive Vice President Keith Terreri demonstrated his golf skills and got an insight into his swing, body movements, and positioning. It was a fun, interactive way to showcase the technology and how it can be applied to enhance digital ID, security, and customer experience.

Being with our peers at Identity Week was inspiring and energizing. There were spirited discussions about Next Gen identity verification, which reinforces our mission at NEC NSS to apply scientific curiosity with the flexibility to rapidly prototype custom solutions. We look forward to next year’s event!

Discover more about NEC National Security Systems or contact us directly.

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NEC Maintains Top Rank in 2022 NIST FRVT Report

Posted by Kathleen Kiernan on Posted in Analytics, Biometrics, Cloud, Events, Government, Law Enforcement, Security Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

NIST Ranked #1 Globally

  • #1 in Mugshot Identification
  • #1 in Border Security Identification
  • #1 in Mugshot Identification over age differences

At NEC Corporation, we take great pride in our legacy of creating the best technology in our field and our biometric authentication algorithms are no exception. Our #1-ranked National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) algorithms are trusted every day to provide accurate and secure results across sectors including commercial aviation, hospitality and the United States government.

Adding to this legacy, we are excited to share that NEC’s facial recognition algorithm earned the top ranking from NIST’s most recent Face Recognition Vendor Test across multiple categories.

NEC earned top recognition in the categories of Mugshot Identification both globally and in the United States, Global Border Security Identification, and Global Mugshot Identification over age differences, as well as Mugshot to Webcam Identification here in the U.S.

These rankings match the very real, positive impact our technology has on society every day. For example, U.S. CBP Deputy Commissioner, Troy Miller, recently shared in an interview1 that facial recognition technology, including our algorithm, has identified more than 1,000 imposters attempting to enter the country with false documents since 2018 – decreasing potential crime and creating safer communities.

For more than two decades, NEC has consistently surpassed competitors’ algorithms in the categories of accuracy and speed. This remains true even when demographic differentials including race and sex are accounted for and when subjects wear protective face masks. Our algorithm passed internal tests with a rate of over 99.9% in 1:1 verification when face masks of various colors and patterns were worn by individuals – ensuring security and supporting public health.

The latest NIST results showed NEC’s algorithm outperformed the entire field of 329 entries submitted from all over the world on mugshot identification. Our NEC-005 algorithm demonstrated a False Negative Identification Rate (FNIR) of just 0.0017 at a False Positive Rate (FPIR) of 0.001, respectively.

This same algorithm outperformed a field of 289 entries on Mugshot to Webcam identification with an FNIR of .0120 at a FPIR of .001.

NEC’s facial recognition algorithm is called upon by professionals across a diverse range of use cases in critical moments and is counted on for its reliable and accurate results. These use cases include criminal investigation, immigration, military security and national identification within the entertainment industry.

We have implemented more than 1,000 systems with our top-ranked fingerprint and face recognition technologies in more than 70 countries and regions around the world.

Our team works to create the most accurate and reliable product possible to ensure safe, accessible and enjoyable experiences for every person who uses our technology. While navigating access points can often be a hassle, we see a touchless and frictionless future made possible through our first-ranked biometric authentication algorithm.

To read more, you can access the full NIST report, here.

Learn more about our #1 ranked algorithm’s use cases here.

1. https://about.bgov.com/news/facial-scans-catch-impostors-at-border-as-agencies-embrace-use/

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NEC National Security Systems Showcases Digital Identity Solutions

Posted by Kathleen Kiernan on Posted in Analytics, Biometrics, Cloud, Events, Government, Law Enforcement, Security Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

NEC National Security Systems (NEC NSS) showcased its robust, cloud-native digital management platform, body worn solutions and iris recognition capabilities at the connect:ID 2021 conference, October 5-6 in Washington, D.C.

Enlightening Speeches & Future-Focused Conversations

NEC speakers presented and participated in illuminating interviews and discussions during connect:ID, including company leaders: Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, the newly appointed president of NEC NSS; Raffie Beroukhim, SVP and Chief Experience Officer and NEC NSS board member; and Kris Ranganath, Chief Technology Officer.

  • Dr. Kiernan delivered an opening keynote focusing on “Putting a Face on the Digital ID Generation.”
  • Ranganath presented “Decentralized Identity” during a summit speech regarding the benefits of decentralized identity management solutions.
  • As a board member of the International Biometric Identity Association (IBIA), Raffie participated in a panel discussion on key topics in advanced recognition for government agencies.

In addition, Allen Ganz, Vice President of Customer Experience, was interviewed on the topic of “The Future of Digital Travel.” Ganz, who has implemented biometric solutions in the aviation industry, shared information about the first curb-to-gate system for a commercial airline in the United States, which was unveiled at Atlanta’s Terminal F in 2019.

Authentication & Digital Identity Solutions

At the conference NEC NSS hosted a prominent booth showcasing their digital identity management and body worn solutions, that provide identity intelligence, by combining NEC’s best of breed matching algorithms with cutting edge wearable cameras.

They also displayed NEC Digital Platform, a highly secure and scalable digital identity management platform that effortlessly brings touchless experiences to countless use cases. The platform provides a unified experience for a variety of services and transactions by using a unique, multi-factor Digital ID based on biometric authentication and AI technology. It streamlines both physical and digital identities into a secure, privacy-driven ecosystem for a seamless, secure, more personalized, and intuitive customer experience.

Also featured was the new iris-face combo kiosk that seamlessly matches a user’s iris or face—or both modalities simultaneously—against an existing document. Using NEC’s proprietary eye detection technology and remote gaze detection, this solution provides biometric authentication under a variety of conditions.

To learn how NEC NSS provides vital biometric, AI and computer support to U.S. government agencies, please visit the website. You can also follow NEC NSS on Twitter at @NECNSSFed and on its LinkedIn page.

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