Microsoft pinpoints Scyron as intelligent surveillance & digital evidence management partner for Public Safety & National Security
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Partnership will drive growth for Scyron across international markets
Scyron, the security and surveillance services company today announced it has become a global Microsoft Go To Market Partner for Public Safety and National Security. Microsoft selected Scyron’s DARC intelligent surveillance and DEMON digital evidence management suite as a solution to analyse and manage the proliferation of video and digital material gathered from CCTV to mobile phone footage. The two companies will collaborate on a number of areas including software application development from Scyron’s Research and Development Laboratory in Birmingham, UK - as well as training and marketing. This partnership for Scyron represents a springboard for growth outside the UK.
According to IMS Research, the growing market for intelligent networked video surveillance is estimated to be worth $1.7 billion worldwide by 2012*. Scyron’s DEMON suite will be used by Microsoft and its global network of in-country partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) to address this market. Scyron has been invited by Microsoft to become one of only 12 such Go to Market partners globally. The companies will work together on projects in law enforcement, public safety and military situational awareness across international markets from Africa and Asia to North and Latin America.
Wayne Phillips, global Defence Industry Solutions lead for the Public Sector, at Microsoft said, “Scyron has cracked the issue of extracting, analysing and presenting information from all kinds of digital information, including video/CCTV, photographs, scanned documents, audio and mobile phone evidence."
He added, “They have created a video analytics system that is easy to use for law enforcement, defence and commercial organisations but integrates well with complementary systems which is why it is the most appropriate solution for our customers globally.”
Under the partnership, the two companies have signed a non-disclosure document, enabling the collaboration on software application development. Scyron’s systems and applications are based on Microsoft’s .NET technology. The agreement will allow Scyron to access new versions of Microsoft technology such as VisualStudio.net development environment, SQL Server databases, Windows Media Runtime, Office and Sharepoint. This means that Scyron will be able to bring new versions of its Microsoft-based intelligent surveillance and digital evidence management systems to market faster – by as much as two years – providing competitive advantage for customers. Also, access to the Microsoft global partner network enables Scyron to extend its reach and service for customers consistently around the world.
Conversely, Microsoft gains access to Scyron’s software that provides its customers with a secure and tamper-proof audit trail of evidence to comply with DPA, ACPO, Home Office and MoPI guidelines. In addition, there is the opportunity for Microsoft to license software applications from Scyron.
Scyron CEO Mike Wilks, commented, “We are excited about the opportunity to work alongside Microsoft on international projects across law enforcement, defence and public safety. The partnership brings together two complementary software development leaders to deliver world-beating digital analytic applications for customers. We believe this represents an opportunity to expand Scyron’s footprint globally and boost our revenues outside the UK by as much as 300% over the next three years.”
Scyron and Microsoft will work together on training and marketing too. For example, Scyron will deliver training to over 1,500 Microsoft field salespeople from Europe, the Middle East and Africa at a conference.
In the future, Scyron will build on its Microsoft skills base by working towards Microsoft’s Gold partner certification status, continuing its specialisation in security.
Notes To Editors
*IMS Research – The World Market for Video Content Analysis – 2008 edition
**Situation awareness involves being aware of what is happening around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions will impact your goals and objectives, both now and in the near future.
Photography is available of Michael Wilks, chief executive officer of Scyron; Wayne Phillips, global Defence Industry Solutions Lead for the Public Sector, at Microsoft.
