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Genetec security system receives anti-terrorism designation Genetec's unified security platform has been given anti-terrorism certification by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Jan 18, 2018 PITTSBURGH – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week awarded our business partner Genetec anti-terrorism designation for their unified security platform. The platform, Genetec Security Center , combines video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), communications and analytics in one unified system. To receive the certification , Genetec met stringent qualifications set forth by the SAFETY Act of 2002 , which aims to encourage the development and deployment of effective anti-terrorism products and services by providing liability protections. “We take great pride in now having Security Center approved as the only unified security technology platform designated by the SAFETY Act,” Genetec Executive Vice President Alain Côté said in a release. “This U.S. government certification confirms liability protection to Genetec and its customers in the event of a terrorist act and offers further evidence to our government customers that Security Center meets the highest possible quality standards for video surveillance, access control, ALPR, communications and analytics.” Genetec’s video management system Omnicast has held the same anti-terrorism designation for the last several years. Dagostino Electronic Services has a longstanding partnership with Genetec and is proud to offer their full line of security products and solutions. Read more the anti-terrorism certification at genetec.com . Read more about DES’ full line of security and surveillance solutions at descomm.com/security . Now Read These! New PCCD Grant Update: $100,000 Instant Funding for School Safety READ PCCD Grant Deadline: Plan for School Emergency Alerts Ahead of Alyssa’s Law READ Alyssa's Law: Strengthening Emergency Response in Pennsylvania Schools READ

DES works to restore fiber optics following Pittsburgh train derailment Dagostino Electronic Services was called to assist in the restoration of fiber optics following August's freight train derailment near Station Square in Pittsburgh. Aug 8, 2018 PITTSBURGH – Dagostino Electronic Services was called to assist in the restoration of fiber optics following the Aug. 5 freight train derailment near Station Square in Pittsburgh. The fiber optics control communications and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems in the area. Several of the rail cars on the train, traveling westbound to Chicago, derailed and tumbled down onto the Port Authority’s T-line tracks below just after 1 p.m. The cars were carrying double-stacked shipping containers and transporting consumer and household goods including food, beverages and mouthwash. The derailment created quite the mess both on the Norfolk Southern rail line where the train was traveling, the T tracks below and the hillside in between. Crews had to push several shipping containers down the hillside in order to remove them from the area. By Wednesday morning, the Norfolk Southern tracks had been repaired and service on the main line had resumed. While the rail cars had been removed from the T tracks, repair work was continuing, and it wasn’t immediately clear when service would be restored. Miraculously, no one was injured in the derailment. The cause remains under investigation. DES at Station Square Train Derailment DES at Station Square Train Derailment DES at Station Square Train Derailment Station Square Train Derailment Now Read These! Copper vs. Fiber: The Battle of Quick Performance vs. Futureproof Infrastructure READ 8 benefits of fiber optic vs. copper cabling READ DES delivers connectivity, communications to KDL's new Pittsburgh headquarters READ

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What We Learned in the Q1 Cybersecurity Briefing Cyberthreat is real – and the stats are staggering. Over 40 industry professionals gathered in PPG Paints Arena for DES’ Q1 Cybersecurity Briefing with industry leader, Fortinet. Apr 18, 2023 Cyberthreat is real – and the stats are staggering. The industry saw a dramatic rise in advanced persistent cybercrime with malicious wiper volume increasing an astonishing 53% between Q3 and Q4 of 2022. Arguably more astonishing, though, are the statistics regarding businesses' ability to protect against the rise in cybercrime. According to a recent survey , 72% of respondents claimed they have a ransom policy in place – yet when investigating the nature of the ransom policy, 49% of them pay the ransom outright! With these stats as our scene setter, over 40 industry professionals gathered in PPG Paints Arena for DES’ Q1 Cybersecurity Briefing with industry leader, Fortinet . The presentation focused on Operational Technology (OT) as an increasingly vulnerable attack surface. With buildings operations converging with networked operations, building OT, such as the software and hardware that control physical devices, are a gateway for bad actors. One example of this is Hikvision and Dahua video cameras, recently banned by the FCC over concerns of backdoor vulnerabilities. Indeed, once again, the numbers tell the story. Over the course of 2022, 93% of organizations experienced an intrusion targeting their OT infrastructure, with 83% experiencing more than three intrusions. Certainly, global events are affecting this rise. The war in Ukraine is being played out online as well as on the ground, with both sides developing targeted attacks against critical infrastructure. The sophistication of these attacks has ramifications on US infrastructure, particularly in the increase of disk-wiping malware. A conversation about cybersecurity would be remiss without recognizing the insidious weaponization of AI. Cybercriminals are using AI in a multitude of malicious activities ranging from thwarting algorithms that detect abnormal network activity to mimicking human behavior. Deepfakes and uber-realistic phishing emails add to an arsenal of tactics designed to trip up an unsuspecting employee and infiltrate the network. Most worrying in the 2023 cybersecurity forecast is the commercialization of cybercriminal organizations. Bad actors can outsource specific components of cyberattacks to niche professionals, such as Reconnaissance-as-a-Service where dark web “detectives” are hired to probe a target and provide an attack blueprint. Recon services could include reports on security schema, key security personnel, number of on-prem servers, compromised credentials and many other items. The implication of these turnkey, subscription-based offerings is that anyone , with any skill level, will be able to launch a sophisticated attack. Looking ahead at developing technology, the next frontier of cybercrime will be the intersection of the Dark Web with Web3. Web3 is a new model for the World Wide Web which incorporates concepts such as decentralization, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics. Many corporations are beginning to experiment with Web3 tools as a means to store and manage data and provide customized, AI-driven user experiences. The decentralization and obscurity of Web3 technologies will be the next major challenge for cybersecurity. The presentation concluded with practical action. The protection against a multi-directional threat landscape must be a multi-layered security strategy. Thankfully, there is a wide toolbox of possibilities, including: Have a Disaster Recovery Plan (DR) Have an Incident Response Plan (IR) Practice your DR & IR Plans Manage Vulnerabilities Patch your systems Use Virtual Patching Continually Train your Employees (Phishing) Use Multi-Factor Authentication Adopt a Least-Privileged Access Philosophy In regard to Operational Technology, a multi-layered security plan should also include: EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) Inline Sandboxing Off-site and offline backups ZTA (Zero Trust Architecture) Conduct Network Mapping & Connectivity Analysis Implement Strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) Strategy After a lively open floor discussion, seminar attendees retreated to a private VIP box where they enjoyed great food and enviable views of the game! In conclusion, what can you do right now to protect your organization? You can contact us to discuss any of these strategies. You can also request a FREE cybersecurity threat assessment . It is minimally disruptive to your ongoing operations and will provide you with a detailed report of vulnerabilities. These assessments often surprise our clients. In 70% of cases, malware is detected, and – as they say – knowledge is power. PPG Cyber Event -1.jpeg PPG Cyber Event -3.jpeg PPG Cyber Event -5.jpeg PPG Cyber Event -4.jpeg PPG Cyber Event -2.jpeg Now Read These! FCC Launches Cybersecurity Pilot for K-12: What You Need to Know READ FRIDAY15: AI-Driven Location Services with Juniper Networks READ Cybersecurity Toolbox READ

DES Secures Surveillance at McKnight Properties in the Heart of Downtown Pittsburgh Three commercial real estate buildings located in downtown Pittsburgh required a unified surveillance solution. Mar 19, 2020 The Oliver Building, Heinz 57 and the Smithfield Building, located in downtown Pittsburgh, are three expansive commercial real estate properties owned by McKnight Realty Partners. The buildings are home to multiple first-class tenants who span retail, hospitality, healthcare, professional services and higher education. UPMC, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris University and the Embassy Suites are a few of their tenant roster. Brooke Brown is senior property manager for these buildings. She ensures that the facilities run smoothly and understands that security is paramount to the tenants’ experience. Over time, she detected a consistent vulnerability in the buildings’ security fabric. The Oliver Building had an unmanned and manual freight entrance that was in constant use. Delivery drivers would buzz on an intercom which would alert the security officer located at the front entrance to the building. The officer would then leave his post to operate the freight door, causing that front entrance to be exposed to any drifters coming off the streets. Understandably, an unmanned security desk in the building’s front lobby was not reassuring for tenants and presented a legitimate safety matter. Another concern was the quality of perimeter surveillance on the Heinz 57 and the Smithfield Buildings. The buildings used analog surveillance cameras that did not provide sharp imagery. Aside for the obvious hinderance, by being prominent downtown buildings, local law enforcement would approach Brooke with requests to survey their footage of the surrounding streets. But the footage was of such poor quality, it was impossible to make out facial recognition. “I wanted to create a safer community for our tenants,” explained Brooke, “Our first line of defense is security.” DES installed an HID EntryProx keypad that is networked from the freight door of the Oliver Building to the security desk situated in the front lobby. Authorized delivery people can punch in an access code and monitor their own deliveries. Meanwhile, the security officer can view and communicate with delivery agents directly from his desk and operate the freight door remotely. Mapping out the downtown intersection, DES wired four globe cameras on the exterior of the Heinz 57 and Smithfield Buildings. Each camera, manufactured by our partner Axis, is equipped with multi sensors that provide a 360° vision including beneath the camera itself. Using Genetec software, the cameras are networked to a unified command center and provides multiple angles that can be viewed simultaneously on a dedicated screen. A single security officer can monitor the full perimeter of these two block-length buildings. “I can see everything!” Brooke exclaimed, “I can see what lipstick they’re wearing. I can zoom in and see exactly what is happening around our building.” Brooke describes her experience with DES as “connection” – a relationship that seeks the best solutions and mutual satisfaction. “I could speak in my property management layman terms,” she explained, “I could say, ‘I don’t know what I want, but give me this’ and they were able to provide a solution.” As a busy property manager, Brooke works with multiple contractors and juggles countless jobs. When working with DES, Brooke felt no pressure to proactively manage her contract—instead, she received regular updates about the progress of the work. Once the project was over, DES approached Brooke for feedback wanting to know if the equipment was operating as it should. Brooke described how her security personnel encountered an end-user error while operating the new dashboard, and a DES technician arrived on scene within a day to provide client support. Would Brooke recommend DES to others? “Absolutely!” DES’ four business units – structured cabling, security, networks and cybersecurity, multimedia and AV – make us a robust partner in equipping commercial real estate with advanced technology. Call us today to consult with an account specialist about your needs. Surveillance Dashboard The unified security platform displays multiple views from the IP networked surveillance cameras. Panoramic Surveillance Cameras Four panoramic security cameras, across both the Heinz 57 and Smithfield Buildings, provide clear views down this busy intersection. Brooke Brown Brooke Brown, Property manager at Mcknight Realty partners, talks with DES Security Cameras A close up of 3 out of 4 panoramic security cameras. Digital Signage Digital signage in the Heinz 57 building displays the tenant directory. Now Read These! New PCCD Grant Update: $100,000 Instant Funding for School Safety READ PCCD Grant Deadline: Plan for School Emergency Alerts Ahead of Alyssa’s Law READ Alyssa's Law: Strengthening Emergency Response in Pennsylvania Schools READ

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DES Ranks as Top Workplace in Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named Dagostino Electronic Services as a Top Workplace for the third time, based on an anonymous survey conducted by Energage, LLC. Aug 23, 2019 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named Dagostino Electronic Services a winner of the Pittsburgh Top Workplaces award for the third time during an elegant celebration at the Rivers Casino. The Top Workplaces award is based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey research partner, Energage LLC. Energage measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, among others. “Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.” One of the ways that DES builds a healthy workplace culture is actively listening to employee feedback. That feedback led to the creation of the digital transformation team. The digital transformation team, made up of a top employee from each department, meets monthly to evaluate and discuss the technology the company uses and ways to continually improve our systems. “Employee engagement comes from listening to our employees and implementing their ideas,” said Chuck Roberts, vice president of DES. “We have a great team that is passionate about their work, which enhances the work we deliver.” Roberts and Gina Maietta, a DES account manager, attended the ceremony on behalf of the company. “DES really is a top workplace,” Maietta said. “It’s a great family-type environment with an all hands on deck atmosphere. All of my colleagues are extremely knowledgeable and it’s easy to work with them.” DES offers employees competitive benefits like free training and professional development, fully covered health insurance, and company events to blow off steam. “We put a lot of effort into what we can offer our employees,” said Molly DiFiore, director of marketing at DES. “We want to focus on celebrating their knowledge and their dedication to the work they do for the company.” DES is honored to be part of an exclusive list of Pittsburgh businesses that garnered the award. “Becoming a Top Workplace isn’t something organizations can buy,” Claffey said. “It’s an achievement organizations have worked for and a distinction that gives them a competitive advantage. It’s a big deal.” Now Read These! Designing for Technology Seminar at Heinz Field READ How About a Career in STEM? DES High School Booth Goes Virtual READ Des Tronic is Thankful for Public Wi-Fi and Hacker Babies! READ

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Dagostino Electronic Services on Pittsburgh's fastest growing list again in 2017 Another year of exciting growth has earned Dagostino Electronic Services another year on the Pittsburgh Business Times' list of fastest growing companies! Sep 1, 2017 PITTSBURGH — Another year of exciting growth has earned Dagostino Electronic Services, Inc. (DES) another year on the Pittsburgh Business Times’ list of fastest growing companies ! And in 2017 it just keeps getting better. Privately held, locally based companies in western Pennsylvania were ranked based on revenue growth over the last three years and DES saw their growth nearly double from 2016 to 2017. “A few years ago, we set out on a mission to become a ‘customer centric organization’ and we felt very strongly that if we continued to put the customer first, only good things would happen,” said Chuck Roberts, vice president of Dagostino . “We are very excited that we continue to see substantial growth which can only be contributed to our employees providing the best possible experience for our customers.” Founded in 1973 and the preferred technology provider of the Pittsburgh Steelers, DES provides sales, design, installation and maintenance of voice, data, video, security, surveillance, multimedia and structured cabling systems. “We are blessed that as our people and processes continue to grow and evolve,” Roberts added. “We are thankful for the trust our customers extend to us because without them we could not exist.” An awards ceremony for the companies honored by the Pittsburgh Business Times was held August 18, 2017 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown hotel. Now Read These! Designing for Technology Seminar at Heinz Field READ How About a Career in STEM? DES High School Booth Goes Virtual READ Des Tronic is Thankful for Public Wi-Fi and Hacker Babies! READ

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