Morphean SA - Experts & Thought Leaders

The latest in our ongoing series introducing some of Hanwha Vision’s pioneering partners leads us to Martin Jones, Director of Global Accounts at Morphean, a cloud-based video surveillance, access control, and business intelligence platform that enables users to monitor, manage, and protect their operations securely and remotely, while gaining actionable insights to drive smarter decision-making. Introduction Can you briefly introduce yourself, your role at Morphean, and what your responsibilities involve? My name is Martin Jones, and I’m the Director of Global Accounts at Morphean. I’m responsible for supporting our network of resellers so that they can offer valuable service-based solutions to their end customers. A key element of the role also involves close collaboration with our technology partners and internal teams, sharing customer requirements and market expectations in our rapidly advancing industry. What does Morphean offer customers, and what are its areas of specialisation within the video surveillance industry? Our core specialisation lies in delivering a true Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, built to meet the growing demand for smarter, more agile, and cost-effective security landscapes. What sets Morphean apart is that we leverage advanced video analytics, real-time alerts, and seamless integration with third-party systems. This enables businesses not only to enhance security but also to gain valuable operational insights all through a single pane of glass. Our solutions are particularly attractive to multi-site businesses and those looking to migrate away from traditional on-premise systems in favour of cloud-native technologies. Partnership with Hanwha Vision Tell us about your partnership with Hanwha Vision – how did it begin, and what makes Hanwha Vision the right fit for your platform? Morphean and Hanwha Vision share a commitment to innovation and excellence in the video surveillance sector. Together, we offer a compelling solution for security pioneers seeking performance, scalability, and simplicity in their video surveillance systems. Our solution, Connect for Hanwha Vision, brings a true, pure cloud experience to partners’ security offerings. From the outset, we recognised that Hanwha Vision’s high-quality and versatile camera ranges, combined with their open platform approach, aligned perfectly with our own vision for a flexible, cloud-based solution. The team’s strong focus on cybersecurity, edge analytics, and future-ready camera technology complements our platform’s capabilities, allowing us to deliver an integrated, high-performing and secure cloud solution to our customers. Emerging trends As video technology advances, what trends are emerging in the market, and how are customer needs and priorities shifting? Customers are increasingly coming to us for solutions that extend beyond traditional security to offer greater value through business intelligence that supports strategy and decision-making. They are also interested in AI-driven analytics, real-time incident response, and third-party data integration. Moreover, we’re seeing a notable shift toward cloud adoption, driven by the need for greater flexibility, centralised management, a lower total cost of ownership and faster ROI. Sustainability, cybersecurity, and compliance are increasingly important focus areas for end users, with stakeholders becoming ever more alert and strict when it comes to protecting data in transit and in storage. Hanwha Vision’s approach to cybersecurity, with its NDAA Compliance and GDPR-compliant devices, was a significant reason behind the partnership, and is aligned with Morphean’s cybersecurity approach. There is a lot for the modern-day security pioneer to be aware of. Consequently, they are seeking partners that don’t just have innovative solutions but also the expertise to guide and advise them on this ever-changing landscape, as well as the evolving requirements of businesses. Future-proofing How can organisations future-proof by adopting a direct-to-cloud solution? Morphean’s direct-to-cloud solution allows users to scale effortlessly, remove hardware dependencies, and benefit from continuous software updates. This enables a more agile and flexible overall security solution with the flexibility to add functionality as new technologies come onto the market. Staying compliant with the latest regulations, and evolving as an organisation’s needs change is also a key benefit when adopting a direct-to-cloud solution. For example, if a site scales to numerous locations that are distributed across a wide area, there are additional benefits that are experienced near immediately, such as centralised operations, data resilience, and reduced maintenance costs. Morphean’s direct-to-cloud solution offers a multitude of benefits, from live monitoring and remote management of Hanwha Vision devices to flexible cloud storage and integration with alarm receiving centres. Hanwha Vision and Morphean’s integration offers a powerful security and business intelligence solution in the cloud for organisations and installations of all sizes.

Morphean, Europe’s secure direct-to-cloud video solutions company, has announced a strategic partnership with Hanwha Vision, the global vision solution provider.  This collaboration will deliver cutting-edge security solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses, including across retail, smart cities and banking, amid an increasingly complex threat environment.   Direct-to-cloud This partnership will benefit multi-site organisations and streamline their surveillance operations by removing on-site server hardware. The direct-to-cloud approach seamlessly integrates Hanwha Vision ranges, including the X, Q and T series, with the Morphean platform, enabling remote management and access, live streaming, and cloud recording. Users can manage sites from a single, intuitive interface, to simplify setup, management and configuration.   Reduces costs, central management Businesses can significantly reduce operational costs by eliminating hardware maintenance By utilising a direct-to-cloud model, businesses can significantly reduce operational costs - by eliminating hardware maintenance, limiting electricity consumption, and reducing the need for site visits. This results in a more sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable system.    Furthermore, Morphean’s integrations with Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) streamline security processes by providing a centralised management interface, enabling quick and coordinated incident responses. As a result, businesses can reduce downtime and minimise potential losses.  Trusted cybersecurity  Morphean and Hanwha Vision are committed to trustworthy cybersecurity. Morphean operates within secure, GDPR-compliant data centres located in Switzerland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, all certified with ISO 27001 to guarantee top-tier cybersecurity, video encryption, and multi-layer authentication. Morphean offers robust encryption, redundancy, and regular backups, minimising the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or theft and ensuring continuous operation.  USNDAA, ISO-27001, and UL CAP Certification The in-house S-CERT is entirely focused on addressing any potential security vulnerabilities Hanwha Vision was chosen as a manufacturing partner for its commitment to designing, developing,g and manufacturing products and solutions that are cyber-secure, keep users’ confidential information safe, and comply with international regulations. Hanwha Vision products and solutions are compliant with the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), meet ISO-27001 and stringent UL CAP Certification requirements, and have FIPS 140-2 and a device certificate (private Root CA). In addition, the dedicated in-house Security Computer Emergency Response Team (S-CERT) is entirely focused on addressing any potential security vulnerabilities. A competitive edge for resellers and system integrators  By combining Hanwha Vision's powerful edge-based open platform with Morphean's cloud-hosted solution, resellers and system integrators can leverage direct-to-cloud video surveillance technologies to offer clients an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective solution. Furthermore, this integration reduces the complexity of installations and maintenance, allowing for quicker deployments and fewer on-site visits. Remote management and monitoring services Customer satisfaction increases sales opportunities, and profitability for resellers and system integrators Additionally, the ability to deliver remote management and monitoring services enhances customer satisfaction and fosters long-term relationships. This increases sales opportunities as well as profitability for resellers and system integrators and positions them as leaders in the evolving security technology landscape.  Reliable and efficient surveillance “Our collaboration with Hanwha Vision opens new doors for businesses seeking reliable, centralised, and efficient surveillance solutions. Morphean’s direct-to-cloud platform allows companies to streamline security operations while significantly reducing infrastructure costs and complexity,” said Jack Turnell, Commercial Product Owner at Morphean. “This partnership ensures that our clients benefit from state-of-the-art surveillance with robust cybersecurity, supporting them in minimising risk, lowering operating costs, and maximising operational efficiency.” Scalable and sustainable “Our partnership with Morphean showcases scalable, accessible, and sustainable security solutions,” said John Lutz Boorman, Head of Product and Marketing, at Hanwha Vision Europe. "By combining Hanwha Vision’s industry-leading video surveillance solutions with Morphean’s direct-to-cloud capabilities, we’re enabling businesses across sectors - from retail to smart cities - to deploy and manage security systems that are both highly flexible and cost-effective."

A new practical guide has been published by Morphean, a globally renowned company in Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) and cloud analytics, in order to help security businesses understand and adopt the digitalised world of physical security. The new guide argues that cloud physical security is now playing a critical role in the digital transformation agenda, as AI-driven analytics help unlock superior security and intelligence benefits, while helping to mitigate the rising cost base that is being felt by many security businesses across Europe. Digitalisation ushers in new era of hosted security platforms Digitalisation has ushered in a new era of hosted security platforms that are disrupting the industry Digitalisation has ushered in a new era of hosted security platforms that are disrupting the industry. With the Cloud providing the critical infrastructure, exciting new technologies and systems are emerging that enable the sharing of powerful data-driven insights from surveillance data. These benefits relate not only to improved security, but also to operational intelligence to drive efficiencies and profitability for end users. It will increasingly be those security professionals who can combine a physical security skillset with knowledge of the Cloud, networks and systems that will reap future rewards. Cloud, AI and analytics offer multiple economic benefits However, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens with energy and fuel prices running at their highest rates in decades, the guide reasons that cloud, AI and analytics have multiple economic benefits for partners. Switching to the Cloud not only represents more predictable budgeting and recurring revenue for the partner business, but also leads to cost savings, by making better use of people and internal resources, while helping them to gain a competitive edge, as customer requirements rapidly evolve. Why Cloud is mission critical for physical security industry Cloud physical security, charged per device per month, offers the partner a route to more sustainable revenue growth and contracts to be leveraged, by upselling more features. In addition, with the Cloud, a highly skilled technical engineer can set up systems remotely, not only saving money on fuel, but completing several customer jobs in the time it would take to set up just one system at a customer site. Selling and deploying faster and more efficiently represents a better return on the individual’s salary investment. Key areas covered in the new guide include: Cloud physical security: A new digital dawn for CCTV The business case: Reduce costs and streamline operations Analytics and data-driven decisions: Improve security and business performance Employing sustainable practices: Achieve green targets Improving cyber security knowledge: Protect networks and systems Trusted partnerships: Build relationships that lead to long-term success Tackling the modern threat landscape Martyn Ryder, the Vice President (VP) of Sales and Marketing at Morphean, explains “Such is the nature and complexity of the modern threat landscape that companies are increasingly turning to external partners, to strengthen their security posture.” The partner can also access many potential cost-saving benefits to future-proof their business" He adds, “To remain competitive, physical security specialists need to arm themselves with knowledge of network connectivity, AI and the power of analytics, to help them position cloud physical security technology as more than just business security, but also business intelligence. In so doing, the partner can also access many potential cost-saving benefits to future-proof their business.” Mitigating cyber security risks The guide also explores the importance of establishing trusted partnerships to work more collaboratively, in order to minimise system vulnerabilities and to mitigate cyber security risk. Learning to recognise the cyber risks will help security professionals and their customers ensure the most appropriate security protocols are in place, for maximum protection of networks and systems. The transition towards video surveillance as-a-service (VSaaS) and access control as-a-service (ACaaS) also represents a significant step towards a more sustainable agenda. Cloud employs cleaner and greener data storage with newer energy-efficient technologies and techniques, while also enabling easier scalability and a shift away from legacy equipment.

While COVID-19 caused widespread disruption and many challenges for businesses, its sudden arrival prompted some very quick decision-making around how to maintain operations. For some businesses, cloud-based video conferencing solutions provided a welcome alternative to meeting face-to-face. A year on and it seems that this sudden and mass adoption of cloud has accelerated a digital transformation process in other departments. Physical security too is increasingly moving to the cloud in the form of hosted solutions, where Video Surveillance as-a-Service (VSaaS) is providing comprehensive protection across a range of industries and sectors. To better understand the impact of this migration to the cloud, hosted security provider Morphean commissioned a survey of 1000 senior decision-makers across the UK, Germany and Sweden, working in HR, facilities management, IT and security. As well as ascertaining purchasing intent around hosted security applications among a broad spectrum of buyers, the results would provide key indications around the abilities of cloud to benefit organisations in regard to both security and business operations. An increasing urgency around VSaaS and ACaaS adoption Low costs, flexible scalability, demand for real-time and remote access to security data are key to the adoption of hosted solutions Survey results revealed that 51% of senior decision-makers are currently using cloud-based video surveillance (VSaaS) and/or a door entry/access control system (ACaaS). This represents a 3% increase in comparison to responses from a 2019 survey (48%), and broadly reflects projected growth in the physical security market from USD $93.5b in 2020 to USD $120.3b by 2025 at a CAGR of 5.2%. Low costs, flexible scalability and demand for real-time and remote access to security data are key to the accelerated adoption of hosted solutions in the current climate. A significant 70% of respondents agreed that the pandemic had actually increased the necessity/urgency for businesses to adopt VSaaS and ACaaS, with IT Services revealed as the sector with most respondents strongly or somewhat agreeing (82%), followed by Security (73%). Results highlight a hosted physical security market which is in a strong position for 2021. Physical security utilising the cloud can unlock many security and business benefits for the modern organisation as it faces many new challenges. Business optimisation and operational insights The benefits of VSaaS and ACaaS prompted Morphean to examine what areas of the business were optimised, or in need of improvement. 43% of those surveyed stated that data/information security was the most optimised aspect of their company. The total number of respondents who indicated that physical security was already optimised had risen by 4% since our 2019 survey, to 27%. It was those working in IT who saw the greatest disparity in security-related optimisation, with far fewer recognising that physical security was optimised (28%) compared with data/IT security (55%). This may point to an opportunity to increase physical security optimisation to be on par with data/IT security. 95% of those surveyed agreed that if an existing security system could deliver insights beyond security to assist decision making it would influence adoption. It is clear that the growth in connected digital devices through the IoT is resulting in a growing appetite for physical security, such as network cameras, to enhance existing IT systems and assist business intelligence gathering. As an example, consider an office environment where access control and video data can be used to determine an employee’s movements in the event of a positive COVID-19 result and alert others who may have made physical contact with that individual. A future proof business model Decision-makers surveyed that use of cloud technologies to increase in the future as a result of COVID-19 78% of the 1000 senior decision-makers surveyed anticipate their organisations’ use of cloud technologies to increase in the future as a result of COVID-19. Rather than being tied to fixed IT infrastructure on-premises, businesses are able to customise and scale quickly to meet ongoing challenges without the need for large upfront capital investment. The convenience of as-a-service can be paid for out of operational expenditure as a monthly cost. This is the proven business model of the cloud. Yet the security industry has been slow to adopt it. One key challenge is the way in which the prevalent business models in the sector operate. Transitioning to sales cycles based on monthly licences rather than up-front purchases won’t be easy, but the security channel must learn how if it is to remain competitive and drive new business opportunities. This recurring revenue model will be interesting for the physical security industry who will have witnessed uncertainty and, in some cases, a downturn in revenues as decisions around capital expenditure were put on hold during the crisis. Full support and extensive functionality From a customer perspective, 28% of respondents highlighted cost benefits as a key factor in the move towards VSaaS/ACaaS and 19% indicated that they would expect to see all-inclusive updates/upgrades and support. VSaaS and ACaaS are supported by the latest software updates and firmware upgrades, so are always up to date. Additionally, functionality such as remote management allows operations to be monitored offsite via mobile device. Access from any location (32%), remote maintenance (31%), and the ability to monitor empty sites (29%) were all identified as key benefits of introducing VSaaS and ACaaS, alongside better security (40%) and better functionality (33%). The revelation that such technology is employed by over half of organisations across a wide range of industries is a comforting validation of its benefits, and evidence that hosted physical security is in great demand. 30% of those surveyed indicated that they did not currently use such solutions, but were considering their implementation. Cloud’s resilience and ability to connect the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly proved its worth, even to the uninitiated who have now witnessed first-hand the value of connected systems. VSaaS and ACaaS provide flexibility in a security and business solution that meets the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of passengers and staff aboard public transport has been an ongoing concern. The scenes of underground trains, still packed with commuters as infection rates soared, will have raised alarm bells with bus and train managers, transport officials and government representatives alike. Now, as infection rates hold steady and people slowly return to the workplace, a rise in commuter levels, coupled with a need for strong infection control protocols, is putting a strain on an already overburdened transport system. Managing passenger flow through bus terminals and train stations, while ensuring adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing policies, can be a difficult task. On buses and trains, staff have the unenviable task of challenging any individual who flouts the rules, while attempting to maintain safe operation for the benefit of all passengers. This is where advances in digital surveillance technologies can play an important role in enhancing security, improving operations and supporting the customer facing teams in their day to day roles.  The power of the cloud Keeping businesses afloat and people connected throughout the pandemicCloud or hosted technology has played an important part in keeping businesses afloat and people connected throughout the pandemic. When it comes to physical security such as video surveillance and access control, today’s cloud-enabled systems are far removed from the outdated CCTV and manual access control technologies employed in the past. Cloud connectivity brings with it many benefits, from a security, operational and also business intelligence point of view, thanks to the powerful data that these solutions produce which can be used to inform decision making. The advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, and have wide ranging applications for all areas of the transport sector; across stations, transport hubs and vehicles. When used to support staff and complement existing processes, such systems can prove invaluable for transport professionals in helping to create a safer working environment, promoting confidence among personnel and passengers, and assuring passengers who are fearful about the current pandemic that all possible precautions are being taken during their journey. Managing occupancy across bus and rail Monitoring the movement of staff and passengers is an essential part of being able to maintain a safe operation. Through the utilisation of surveillance cameras at entrances and exit points, as well as at key areas within transport terminals and on the transport mode itself, occupancy thresholds can be determined to ensure passenger numbers do not exceed safe limits. Network surveillance cameras, accessed via mobile device, can enable transport officials to check passenger flow in real-time, while live alerts to warn that health and safety protocols are being breached, enable swift drafting of security or operations personnel to address the situation. Live alerts to warn that health and safety protocols are being breached Through internet of things (IoT) connectivity, additional devices can be easily added to complement the surveillance solution and unlock further benefits. Network audio speakers can be triggered to play pre-recorded messages to alert or inform passengers. Similarly, frictionless access control, enabling customers and staff to move ‘hands-free’ through gateways and ticket checkpoints to avoid viral spread, is made possible by having an access reader which is activated, for example, via QR codes on a mobile phone. And when access readers are integrated with surveillance cameras, this will act as a second layer of authentication to grant or refuse access based on valid staff credentials. Improving security in challenging times Such technologies, interconnected and able to share data, can be used to more effectively report in real time on activity that threatens to have an adverse effect on passengers, staff and the transport environment. Significant parts of the rail network are relatively unmonitored, and inevitably these areas are more vulnerable to vandalism. Similarly, on bus services, abuse of passengers and staff, and acts of criminal behaviour remain a concern. By alerting security staff to a developing situation before it occurs, an incident can be dealt with quickly, minimising disruption to transport services. Cloud based technology can be relied on Cloud based technology can be relied on to not only help improve current services, around passenger occupancy in the current pandemic, but also to help transport officials plan for the security challenges of the future. Simple customisation and easy scalability, plus software upgrades and firmware updates to ensure the system is always up to date and operational, form essential components of a future proof solution which is capable of bringing peace of mind to the transport industry. Additionally, predicted future benefits include the potential for customers to check transport occupancy levels via a mobile app. This would inform them of particularly busy times of passenger transit, allowing more choice over when and where to travel based on real-time data, and ultimately helping to even out passenger numbers to balance journeys and greatly improve efficiency and flow. In a busy world where the demands on our rail and bus networks are now impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and indeed the possibility for further related challenges in the future, such cloud-connected technologies represent a worthwhile investment.

COVID-19 and the resultant lockdown saw an unprecedented demand for cloud-enabled technologies across Europe. Such services enabled people to stay connected and allowed some businesses to relocate personnel and continue to operate successfully. With enterprise-focused video conferencing mobile app downloads showing a weekly 90% increase in comparison to pre-COVID-19 figures, it’s clear that cloud services have proven invaluable in these challenging times. Now, as the benefits to business of cloud technology become apparent, and the grip of COVID-19 begins to loosen, senior decision makers must consider the learnings from the past few months and look to apply them to boost productivity, streamline costs or become more agile in the long term. Digital transformation presents some enticing advantages for those companies that have been slow to adapt. The physical security industry, traditionally video surveillance cameras (CCTV) and access control, will have witnessed how cloud infrastructure is not only cost effective and safe, but is a force multiplier for connecting platforms, services and people with potent business benefits. The future is VSaaS and ACaaS In today’s modern, connected world, dated technologies are giving way to their cloud-enabled successors, video surveillance as-a-service (VSaaS) and access control as-a-service (ACaaS). In this context, cameras and readers are added to a network as IoT devices that bring security systems up to date and represent a vital component in any modern, cyber-secure digital strategy. Frictionless access control has meant touch free access to buildings But better security is just one benefit of a much greater system that can bring real value. Built in analytics, for example, that utilise the data from network video cameras and smart access control devices, produce valuable business insights that help to inform and automate decision making. In the recent pandemic, frictionless access control has meant touch free access to buildings; while occupancy tools have helped retailers adhere to strict government guidelines on social distancing. And as more security equipment becomes connected to the wider IT network, the advantages have not been lost on the IT industry that is expressing more than a passing interest in the adoption and management of such systems. Morphean recently conducted a survey of 1000 IT decision makers across the UK and Europe, with the purpose of providing clarity around their security purchasing intent in the 2020s. Findings revealed that as many as 84% of IT managers are currently using or considering VSaaS or ACaaS systems, pointing to an appreciation of the convergence of physical security and IT security, and a willingness to embrace systems when integrated with IT in the cloud. An adaptable business model with recurring revenues Of course, it is not just the IT industry that is changing mindsets towards hosted physical security. As a result of COVID-19, end customers are demanding it too and found it easier to scale at speed when business circumstances changed. Rather than being tied to fixed IT infrastructure on premises, a hosted solution offered greater dexterity as operational challenges around the pandemic arose. Businesses were able to customise and scale quickly to meet ongoing need without the need for large upfront capital investment, instead, paying for the convenience as-a-service out of operational expenditure as a monthly cost. This is the proven business model of cloud, yet the security industry has been slow to adopt it. One key challenge is the way in which the prevalent business models in the sector operate. VSaaS is still alien to installers and integrators used to selling hardware on narrow margins, reliant on existing financial arrangements with distributors to fund new equipment. Transitioning to sales cycles based on monthly licences rather than up-front purchases won’t be easy, but the security channel must learn how if it is to remain competitive and drive new business opportunities. This recurring revenue model will be interesting for the physical security industry who will have witnessed uncertainty and, in some cases, a downturn in revenues as decisions around capital expenditure were put on hold during the crisis. Instead, convenient and recurring monthly payments will have put the installer on a firmer footing and guaranteed ongoing vendor support backed by the latest software updates and firmware upgrades to ensure delivery of a high quality service that’s always up to date and online. What is driving your digital strategy? VSaaS and ACaaS provide a flexible and fluid security and business solution Cloud is here to stay. Its resilience and ability to connect the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved its worth, even to the uninitiated who have now witnessed first-hand the value of connected systems. VSaaS and ACaaS provide a flexible and fluid security and business solution to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry, where the changing threat landscape means investing in the cloud is an investment towards success. CEOs and CIOs within the physical security reseller industry must learn the lessons and apply the learnings to drive their businesses forward in the ‘new normal’ where hosted security solutions must surely play a major part to expand their offering to a wiser customer base. Cloud-enabled physical security solutions represent an investment into improving security and operations, and a chance to forge new business relationships to face the challenges of an ever changing world.