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Biometrics To Improve Terminal Side Security And Employee Screening

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Innovations at airports have historically focused on one or both of the following primary factors: improving the customer experience, and securing passengers from ‘terminal to the plane.’

For example, the ‘Automated Screening Lane,’ originally proven to be successful in many European airports, have been widely adopted by U.S. airports in the past two years. In addition, new scanning technologies are making it possible to rapidly detect explosives, firearms and other weapons hidden on a person, without requiring them to remove layers.

On the customer experience front, more than 15 airports started testing and using biometrics to dramatically improve the customer experience. Airports are using advanced facial recognition to make it much easier for travelers to check-in at self-service kiosks, drop their luggage off at counters, and board planes – all without showing passports, IDs or other credentials.

While many airports are still in trial phases for these technologies, early results of reduced wait times and improved service levels are encouraging.

Despite these advancements, there has been little innovation in two critical areas: terminal-side security and employee screening to protect against the insider threat. Though some airports actively identify new technologies to improve these areas, many play a game of ‘wait and see’ to find out what the TSA will support or mandate.

Based on my experience, the airports that are proactive with their technology are the ones that set the future trends. When projects are successful, the TSA embraces those airports as models.

Security has traditionally been separate from the customer experience, but based on the early success of biometrics, we’ll see a big shift on this front in 2019. Airports will increasingly leverage successful customer technologies to improve their security apparatuses as well. This will set the trend for what airport security will look like for terminal side and employee screening in 2019 and beyond.

Here are two big ways we expect to see the combination of biometrics and security deployed this year.

Battling the Insider Threat – Improving Employee Screening

According to a recent economic impact study conducted for Airports Council International – North America, about 1.2 million people work at 485 commercial airports in the U.S.

In a risk-based security model, airport employees don’t require the same level of scrutiny as passengers, but they still need to be screened. Because there are no TSA mandates of physical screening for employees, many airports  deploy new security programs only after several noteworthy incidents have occurred, including the Horizon Air worker who stole and flew a commercial aircraft over the Seattle area, and the multiple smuggling-case/PN2GK4BkeWZ1AZZShFaTsL/’>arrests for various smuggling charges.

These incidents have put many aviation security veterans, including myself, on high alert and increased the possibility of a mass casualty act conducted by a disgruntled or radicalized employee. While many airports have added physical screening procedures for employees, the use of biometrics for employee screening for employee screening will start to explode in 2019.

Here’s why. Security and customer convenience are constantly at odds in traditional airports. Adding additional physical security procedures for employees can be cumbersome and cause delays for travelers because the employees are held-up at security checkpoints. This is why biometrics, combined with the power of new physical threat detection systems like Evolv Edge®, will become the defacto standard for employee screening.

The early success of biometrics from a customer satisfaction standpoint will crossover to the security side as more airports employ biometrics at security checkpoints for another layer of security for passenger identification.

In fact, the TSA recently announced their roadmap for expanding the use of biometrics to improve passenger identify verification. This will be a departure from the current process of examining physical documents and processing biographical information on every traveler.

But, by adding biometrics scanners at security points like TSA Pre-Check, U.S. Customs and Border Protection points, and more, the TSA and the airports will be able to improve the customer experience, while strengthening their ability to verify each passenger.

These advances in technology will allow airports to treat security and the customer experience in the same way, while improving both at the same time. The combination of biometric identification, along with the ability to rapidly scan travelers for weapons and explosive materials without requiring them to take off layers of clothes, shoes, belts and more, will result in more secure, more convenient travel.

Why I Started Evolv: A Q+A with Co-Founder and CEO, Mike Ellenbogen

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I recently sat down with Mike Ellenbogen, our CEO and co-founder. We discussed his career path, what’s to come in the security industry in 2019 and Mike’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. See what Mike had to say.

Melissa Cohen: Mike, you have a lot of experience launching new companies and building something from the ground up based on a new idea. You did this with both Evolv and your previous company. Can you tell us about an accomplishment that shaped your career?

Mike Ellenbogen: Absolutely. I love building things and always have. I had a eureka moment that triggered the inception of my first company, Reveal Imaging. After new legislative requirements for airport security screening were put in place following September 11, I realized it made sense to employ smaller, less expensive systems and connect them together via a network of PCs. We rethought the way checked baggage was screened in the U.S., considering the total cost of the systems as opposed to just the cost of the technology. Ultimately, Reveal Imaging was acquired by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in August 2010. I’m immensely proud of the work that team did and grateful for the experience – it’s really helped shape who I am today and is what motivated me to keep going and start Evolv.

MC: Based on your extensive experience in the security business, what do you think makes a good CEO in the industry?

ME: There needs to be an inclination to push beyond the conservative approach that is so common in the security industry. There are plenty of businesses out there with the “same old” security technology that’s been around for decades. I like to push the envelop and ensure that my company is offering something that solves a problem while also surprising and delighting. I think it’s important that a security industry CEO sees the world that can be rather than replicating what’s already out there or being happy with the status quo.

MC: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in building either of these businesses and how did you overcome it?

ME: The core technology at both companies was/is really complicated – millimeter wave imaging is a challenging field, so is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Of course, you have to have technology that works in order to have repeatable and reliable customers that you can pursue. Leading an emerging technology company and inventing fundamentally new technology, there’s inherently a lot of pieces you have to glue together. It’s daunting and the success of the company is reliant on a deep understanding of the physics of the real world and how to appropriately push the boundaries of electronics and processing.

With any new technology or applications, there is also a steep learning curve among your teams. An engineer may be familiar with the technology, but not with the application. On that note, another challenge is finding the kind of people that can help move the physical security technology industry forward. We look for people with credibility, who have energy and creativity, and can also help move the needle.

MC: What are some of the biggest trends and themes you’ll be watching for in the security industry in 2019?

ME: We’ll definitely see further integration of AI and facial recognition into more security technologies and applications. Disparate AI capabilities will need to be packaged in a way that is more useful for customers in 2019. We’ll also see an increase in compute power at the edge, for example, more compute power within security cameras rather than via a central/integrated service. And, I know people have been saying this outside of the security industry for years, but we’re going to see expanded use of the cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) within security technologies. While this has already started, some major shifts in this space are coming.

MC: Let’s do some rapid-fire, fun questions. How would you describe your leadership style?

ME: I like to think I present a vision of what could be to get people behind that vision – you need people to believe in the vision to engage them in getting there. Considering I’m focused on solving problems in a new way, I also recognize that it’s important for me to surround myself with people who are optimistic but real.

MC: What is your top productivity hack?

ME: I live my life multi-threaded, which I think is just another way of saying that I’m always trying to be efficient. I do a lot of different things in parallel. For example, I turn the coffee pot on before I get ready for work so that it’s ready when I leave. I take pride in maximizing my time like this.

MC: What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

ME: I always wanted to run a company and invent something – this desire was within me from a very young age. I would tell myself you need time to see the opportunities in the market, so find an industry you really love, make it your own, and word incredibly hard at it.

MC: What motivates you?

ME: Every day I’m motivated by the vision that the technology we’re working on is important and helping to save lives. As I mentioned before, I also love building new things and, in doing so, helping to bring success to the people around me.

MC: What best practices can you share for future leaders who are looking to start a business?

ME: It’s all about the people. Whatever your path, you’ll be spending a lot of time in the trenches with them, so you better like them. And of course, expect the unexpected!

Three Trends Impacting Entertainment Security

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In past blog posts, we’ve discussed the need for weapons screening and how to improve security at performing arts venues. In taking a look at the broader entertainment industry as a whole, the conversation around security looks different.

At large concert venues and sports arenas, we often find that security is already a defined and established practice. These venues typically have a dedicated security team, led by a veteran security chief and supported by a series of technologies and procedures. In contrast, we find that many performing arts venues – primarily those that are not located in big cities – are usually at the beginning of their security journey.

While security and the practice of people screening is not new to the entertainment industry, there have been significant developments in the past five years that have impacted how security directors approach securing these venues. As patron experience, speed and increased detection continue to remain paramount in screening, security directors at these venues are starting to ask themselves what they can be doing better.

With that, let’s explore three ways entertainment security has changed and how these venues are looking beyond traditional security processes and procedures to improve security screening and create a more welcoming visitor experience.

Access to Artists Draws Attention to Stalkers

Weeks after wrapping her worldwide Reputation tour, it was revealed that Taylor Swift’s team was using facial recognition technology to scan for potential stalkers at her shows. Unbeknownst to her concert goers who stopped at kiosks to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her rehearsals, the system was secretly recording their faces and immediately sending the data to a “command post” in Nashville that attempted to match hundreds of images to a database of her known stalkers. While Swift has started to receive some backlash over the use of the technology, it represents a growing trend in entertainment security: the need to control stalkers.

To-date, the majority of entertainment venues have taken the same standard approach to security – screening the entire general fan population via a manual bag search and metal detectors. However, as celebrities, athletes and artists provide more access to their fans – think paying $200 extra for a meet-and-greet ahead of the show – security directors are beginning to look beyond traditional screening methods to prevent known assailants from getting close to talent. While Swift’s team is one of the first to come out and acknowledge the use of facial recognition technology to spot and identify stalkers, they are not the first and will certainly not be the last. In the coming years, I expect we will see facial recognition technology leveraged more frequently to identify stalkers. In addition, the use of advanced sensors such as millimeter wave technology will be used to identify any concealed weapons, particularly non-metallic ones, that fans might be attempting to bring in.

Monetizing the Security Experience

Two headlines from earlier this year that really caught my eye when thinking about entertainment security, at sports venues in particular: “Nobody’s Going to Sports in Person Anymore. And No One Seems to Care,” and “College football attendance sees second-largest decline in history.” As ticket prices rise, and as temperatures continue to drop in some regions, a noticeable trend in sports and entertainment is that people simply aren’t going to as many games as they used to. Instead, they are choosing to watch the games from the comfort of their own homes from one of their many devices, often via streaming services.

Because of this shift, heads of these facilities are beginning to explore how they can create more value for the fan experience. Think about what Disney was able to achieve with the introduction of the FASTPASS – pay extra on top of a standard ticket price to spend less time waiting in lines for popular attractions. What if this same concept could be applied to security at concerts and sports games? An improved security experience, whether it be less invasive or a faster process, is one way venues are working to get fans back into seats – and they’re looking at how technology can help them do this.

Protecting Against Insider Threats

Unlike employees who work at airports or office buildings, many of the employees who work at entertainment venues are subcontractors who only work during games or when events are happening. There is a level of employee screening that is happening; however, it varies from venue to venue. For example, if a venue is home to a national sports league team – such as the Boston Bruins – the venue itself needs to meet the NHL standards for security. Employee screening is a component of meeting this standard. Because these venues already have standards in place for games, they tend to follow these standards for all events. However, venues that are not the “home” for a national team do not have a standard set of security practices in place for screening employees that they follow all the time.

The recent shifts in the entertainment landscape means that everyone from C-level executives to security directors at entertainment venues are tackling new security challenges every day. Whether they are hosting the AFC East Championship Game or night two of an artist’s summer tour – fan experience, detection capabilities and the overall speed of security will continue to dictate security processes throughout the entertainment industry. As the industry itself has shifted, we will start to see more of these facilities leveraging new, innovative technologies such biometrics and facial recognition technologies to combat today’s threats.

To learn more about what is ahead for physical security in 2019, check out our recent blog post.

Photo Credit: Jeff Egnaczyk

International Security Expo 2018: The Changing Demographics of the Security Industry

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For years, going to the United Kingdom Security Expo in London has felt like going to a get-together with members of a fairly tight-knit club. Everyone was involved in the business of selling, buying and deploying high-powered security screening gear for airports, government buildings and other hardened locations.

This year, the vibe was noticeably different, with many new faces, from different industries, and with different priorities—emphasis on the word “many.” With the awful increase in mass casualty attacks on soft-targets such as schools, corporate offices and houses of worship, registrations for the show rose 38 percent from the previous year. This includes corporate security managers, hoteliers, government regulators and municipal law enforcement officials from around the world.

The show organizers clearly saw this change coming. Besides renaming the show—as of this year, it’s the International Security Expo–they set off a sizeable part of the show floor for the dozens of drone (and counter-drone!) security products on the market. The centerpiece exhibit was the football field-sized “Protecting Urban Spaces Demonstrator,” where visitors could get a sense of the user experience of various futuristic products in a simulated city, right down to a smart man-hole cover that looks out for wanted criminals while it also monitors the water and gas levels around it.

We definitely saw the broadening demographics of the security business at the Evolv booth. We had visits from multiple soccer clubs and other professional sports teams, all looking for ways to lower the odds of an attack in their stadium without taking any fun out of a night at the game. We spoke with police departments, who wanted to boost security at police stations and potentially at crime scenes. Large event planning companies kicked the tires, as well.

As a rule, these people had little interest in speeds and feeds, and most probably couldn’t tell you the meaning of the acronym AVSec (Answer: Aviation Security). They wanted to talk more about use cases, and how to create fluid, non-aggravating screening processes that wouldn’t feel like lining up in an airport security queue. Rather than create impenetrable perimeters to find every last pen-knife, many wanted the ability to quickly stand-up a “pop-up” checkpoint—say, for the night when a dignitary comes to a restaurant or if a municipal alert goes out about a violent criminal on the loose.

I suppose it’s no surprise that many of these newcomers to the show found their way to our booth. Evolv set out in 2013 to create solutions for the growing soft-target threat. More than 200 of our Evolv Edge® systems are already deployed, in everything from corporate headquarters to concert halls. We’re not the only company targeting these applications, but I’d have no problem betting that we have the most experience helping customers in real-world applications.

In terms of the amount of real business that got done at the show, it no doubt took place at the booths and suites of those aviation security companies. With the European Commission mandating a shift from traditional X-ray-based technology to systems based on CT-scanners, there’s a lot of money to be made or lost in that huge market.

But I took the stream of new faces at our booth and the show as a solid leading indicator of expanding demand for a new generation of security screening equipment. It’s an unfortunate statement on the level of violence in our society today that schools, businesses and sports teams need to think about the safety of their visitors. But it’s also a positive sign that these companies and institutions are thinking about responding rather than accepting it as the new normal.

Check out Six Ways to Prevent Soft Targets from Terrorist Attacks to learn more about options to combating today’s security threats.

Physical Security in 2019: What Can We Expect?

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With 2018 coming to close, Evolv is intently focused on the year ahead and how we can bring a truly unique product that keeps venues, events and people safe. This year alone we saw more than 300 mass shooting incidents that targeted venues across the United States. 2018 also brought the first publicly available downloads for printing 3-D weapons in the U.S.; in the first four days, more than 1,000 people downloaded plans for 3-D printed AR-15 rifles. Attacks with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) continued around the globe, with deadly threats occurring in Ghazni, Kabul and the Gercüş district of the Batman Province in Turkey. Security teams at commercial venues and transportation hubs continued to deploy technology to keep their facilities and people safe.

As we look to 2019, we see a number of developments in the physical security industry.

Increased use of multi-layered security plans

Organizations are using more layers of security as part of their overall security plan. This includes overt measures such as visible guards, police details, closed circuit tv (CCTV), turnstiles, bollards and personnel screening equipment, and less obvious measures such as increased use of intelligence, coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement, and social media analysis to identify local threats. The TSA has long used this multi-layer approach, which has influenced other organizations to follow suit. These plans will create layers of security that address and protect along four different capabilities: people, technology, intelligence, and process/protocols.

Technology as a force multiplier for guards

Security guards are the backbone of most physical security plans; however, it can get expensive as the guard force grows. Turnover among security guards is high and many new guards have a basic level of training and limited experience. Technology can be used to augment the guard force and provide them with tools that can increase their effectiveness. Instead of providing guards with more sophisticated training on how to operate equipment, there is a move to make equipment more ‘red light / green light’ to let guards know when they need to look more closely. Today, solutions also provide them with more specific, directive guidance to help them resolve an issue or alert that comes in. This augments guard capability and allows them to be more effective in what they do and more focused on areas of potential concern.

Value of deterrence more widely recognized

There are many examples where visible security served as a deterrence, shifting an attack to a different location. The Pulse Nightclub was Omar Mateen’s third stop that night, after there was a visible security presence at the previous two locations.  Countless security directors attest to the cache of knives found outside designated security checkpoints, and of people diverting before entering a screening point to lock their firearm elsewhere. Visible security and screening are effective both in the weapons they detect and in those that never coming through in the first place.

Increased reliance on third-party validation

With the infusion of innovation comes a surge of new devices, solutions, and systems. As more technologies and solutions are released onto the market, security teams will increasingly rely on third party validation as proof to identify which solutions are operationally sound. These third-party validations can come from industry peers or official designations such as the U.S. Department of Homeland SAFETY Act Designation and third-party testing organizations such as Safe Skies.

AI and biometrics go mainstream

Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be all the rage. It shows up on product material, at trade shows and in your vendor’s sales pitches. We see the effective use of AI in specific products or solutions for specific industry applications. For example, using AI to review and learn from scores of medical radiology images to identify potentially cancerous anomalies that may be less visible to the human eye.  In 2019, vendors will find more practical applications for AI and deep learning models that add value.

Biometrics applications will also move into the mainstream and will expand beyond traditional applications. Not only will the application of biometrics expand beyond airports or highly secure facilities, it will also start to be used for non-security applications, such as customer service.  For example, the use of facial recognition technology to verify VIP guests at a sports stadium, ultimately improving the overall security screening experience for guests.

Interoperability to improve security effectiveness

As additional security layers are deployed, organizations are seeking to make them operate together as an integrated security infrastructure. This will allow the security team to quickly have a more complete picture of a security issue to execute its response. Additionally, it will allow more effective use of all equipment. For example, connecting security screening equipment with CCTV for monitoring and access control equipment will allow the team to see if a person of interest enters the facility, where they are, and if they are acting in a suspicious manner.

Increased blend of the cyber and physical security domains

The cyber and physical security domains are coming closer and closer together. In many organizations the responsibility to understand and mitigate these risks come under different groups. The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) are now called on to work more closely together to keep the entire organization safe from a range of ever-changing threats.

Benefits of security technology expands beyond cost and risk mitigation

When it comes to physical security, one thing has become clear: there is a balance between a fully locked down, highly secure environment and an open and inviting space. Security directors and management teams are broadening how they look at the benefits of new security technologies and procedures by considering the impact on their physical space, visitor experience and overall mission. Traditionally, cost and risk mitigation have served as the primary factors when deciding which solutions to invest in, and while these are still paramount, we will start to see other factors driving decisions as organizations continue to deploy tailored approaches in 2019.

2018 was an important year for the physical security industry that demonstrated the significant role technology plays in addressing the evolving threat landscape. As we transition our thoughts to the year ahead, we will take the lessons we’ve learned and apply them as we continue to work towards creating solutions that keep people safe.

Read more from our Advisor, Mark Sullivan, former U.S. secret service director, on security screening in the 21st century.

Evolv Edge Wins R&D 100 Award

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As we near the end of 2018, here at Evolv we’ve been reflecting on recent accomplishments and challenges – and resolving to find more ways to keep people safe in 2019. Momentum around Evolv Edge® continues to grow, and the positive feedback from the industry and our peers is propelling our team forward into the New Year.

Most recently, Evolv Edge was named a winner in the R&D 100 awards. This prestigious award recognizes the top 100 revolutionary technologies of the past year across five categories and we are honored to be named a winner in the Safety & Security category.

Since 1963, the R&D 100 Awards have been considered the most globally prestigious recognition of invention and innovation. Past winners include sophisticated testing equipment, innovative new materials, disruptive chemistry breakthroughs, and new consumer products and technologies spanning industry, academia and government.

After spending three years developing the Evolv Edge and testing it in the field with users and government testing labs, it is rewarding to see the system receiving various awards and industry designations. In addition to the R&D 100 award, Evolv Edge was recently recognized as a Gold Winner in the metal/weapons detection category of the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards from American Security Today. Evolv Edge also achieved the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Designation and completed operational testing and evaluation by Safe Skies.

We are committed to designing a system that takes the hassle out of people screening. Whether our system is scanning guests and employees at a sports stadium, a performing art venues or an international airport, it consistently scans everyone for bombs, weapons and persons of interest without the need to stop and empty their pockets. The end result is a superior security and visitor experience that is designed to fit into an organization’s personalized security plan.

Our systems have screened millions of people globally and that number is growing every day. As we set our sights on 2019, we look forward to new opportunities that will enable us to continue putting safety first at a time when the threat landscape is ever changing.

Evolv Technology Adds Alan Cohen and General Catalyst Co-founder David Orfao to Board of Directors

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BOSTON, November 27, 2018 – Evolv Technology, creator of the Evolv Edge® people screening system that detects weapons and bombs, today announced the addition of Alan Cohen and David Orfao of General Catalyst to its Board of Directors. Both have deep experience scaling sales, marketing, and distribution, ultimately building organizations that have created new multi-billion-dollar disruptive companies.

Most recently, Cohen was a Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer at Illumio. A long-time enterprise tech veteran, his prior two companies, Airespace (acquired by Cisco for 50 million) and Nicira (acquired by VMware for .26 billion), were the market leaders in software-driven, cutting-edge technologies. Prior to Airespace, Cohen held executive roles at Cisco and IBM.  He is well known for his experience in marketing and organizational scaling in several industries including networking, security, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and enterprise software. Cohen also serves as an advisor at Cohesity, Mist, and Netskope.

Before co-founding General Catalyst, Orfao led Allaire Corporation from 1997 to 2000 as president, CEO, and member of the Board of Directors. During his tenure, Allaire grew from a venture-backed start-up to a 19 million public corporation trading on the NASDAQ. The company pioneered the internet application server market before merging with Macromedia. Prior to Allaire, Orfao held executive positions at Frame Technology Corporation, Claris Corporation, and SQA Corporation, successfully completing Initial Public Offerings on the NASDAQ with Frame Technology and SQA Corporation. Orfao sits on the Board of Directors for several General Catalyst-backed companies including Circle, Envoy, OG Systems and RStudio.

“We welcome Alan and David to the board – their extensive experience scaling and transforming businesses will be invaluable as we expand beyond the initial markets we have developed in 2018,” said Mike Ellenbogen, CEO at Evolv Technology. “These additions and the rest of our board and team of advisors share the same passion for applying technology to help solve important challenges. With their support and influence, we are well-equipped to extend our reach.”

From battle-hardened security personnel to former CIA and FBI operatives, Evolv’s list of advisors and board members includes the following experts that are helping improve the people screening experience with technology to keep people safe from mass shooting and mass casualty events.

Advisors:

  • David Cohen, one of the world’s leading authorities on intelligence analysis and operations from the CIA and NYPD.
  • Juliette Kayyem, who has spent over 15 years working to make our nation more secure as Massachusetts’ Homeland Security Chief and Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
  • John Pistole, former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator who helped transform the organization from a one-size fits all agency, to a risk-based, intelligence-driven agency.

Board Members:

  • Mark Sullivan, a federal law enforcement agent for nearly 35 years and former Director of the U.S. Secret Service.
  • Bilal Zuberi, a partner at Lux Capital and former entrepreneur focused on backing entrepreneurs who imagine and build the world they want to live in.
  • Mike Ellenbogen, co-founder, and CEO of Evolv Technology focused on applying advanced technology to help make our world a safer place.

Evolv Edge® is used by a variety of venues including Oakland International Airport, a top NFL sports stadium, performing arts venues in New York City, iconic tourist attractions and airports across the U.S. and Europe. For company news and updates, follow Evolv on Twitter at @EvolvTechnology, on LinkedIn, and on Facebook.

About Evolv Technology

Evolv Technology protects everyone’s fundamental right to be safe in all the places people gather. The company is an emerging leader in preventing threats before they occur by consistently scanning everyone for weapons and bombs without the need to stop or empty pockets. With Evolv, a positive visitor experience is balanced with a proactive approach to enable security anywhere, without disruption to traffic flow – including at transportation hubs, sports stadiums, entertainment venues, hotels and conference centers, airports, special events, and government agencies. The company is led by veterans of the physical security industry and advised by U.S. and international security and counter-terrorism experts. Evolv is headquartered in the Boston area. For more information, visit www.evolvtechnology.com.

Evolv Technology Honored with 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award

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New York City, ISC East, Nov. 15, 2018 — Evolv Technology today announced it is the recipient of a 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award from American Security Today for Evolv Edge®, its people screening system that detects weapons and bombs. The Evolv Edge was recognized as a Gold Winner in the Best Metal/Weapons Detection Solution Category.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is a prestigious program that highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today. The program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end-users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.

“This award is an exciting milestone for our team as our technology has proven to be unique among the competition and continues to be deployed in venues worldwide to help keep millions of people safe,” said Anil Chitkara, co-founder and president at Evolv Technology. “Traditional screening technologies have not kept pace with today’s changing threats and are not designed to meet the operational realities of a wide range of venues. By leveraging a combination of state-of the art technologies, venue and security managers no longer have to sacrifice security for experience as they work to protect visitors against current and emerging threats.”

Evolv Edge uses multiple sensors to detect a range of metal, plastic and explosive threats using algorithms developed based on artificial intelligence (AI) learning models. The result is a superior visitor and security experience that consistently scans for bombs, weapons and people of interest without the need to empty pockets. The systems have screened millions of people globally at a variety of venues including the Oakland International Airport, a top NFL sports stadium, performing arts venues, iconic tourist attractions and airports across the U.S. and Europe.

“As the nation continues to respond to escalating threats from home and abroad, the innovative solutions being implemented to meet those threats, has led to tremendous growth in the field of Homeland Security,” said Michael Madsen, co- founder and publisher of American Security. “Today, the United States is increasingly focusing on protecting IT/cyber security networks and they are calling on innovative companies like Evolv Technology to help them do so.”

‘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, according to Tammy Waitt, co-founder and editorial director of American Security Today.

Most recently, Evolv Edge achieved the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Designation – further validating and reassuring customers that the technology can be used effectively for its intended purpose of detecting and preventing physical security threats. The system also recently completed operational testing and evaluation by Safe Skies and was successfully tested by TNO, an internationally recognized detection and testing facility, among other certifications and awards.

For company news and updates, follow Evolv Technology on Twitter at @EvolvTechnology and on LinkedIn.

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About Evolv Technology

Evolv Technology protects everyone’s fundamental right to be safe in all the places people gather. The company prevents threats before they occur by consistently scanning everyone for weapons and bombs without the need to stop or empty pockets. With Evolv, a positive visitor experience is balanced with a proactive approach to enable security anywhere, without disruption to traffic flow – including at transportation hubs, sports stadiums, entertainment venues, hotels and conference centers, airports, special events and government agencies. The company is led by veterans of the physical security industry and advised by U.S. and international security and counter terrorism experts. Evolv is headquartered in the Boston area. For more information, visit www.evolvtechnology.com.

About American Security Today

American Security Today (AST), the ‘New Face in Homeland Security™’, is the premier digital media platform in the U.S. Homeland Security and Public Safety Industry, focused on breaking news and in-depth coverage of the newest initiatives and hottest technologies in physical & IT security on the market today.

AST highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions across a wide variety of media products delivered daily, weekly and monthly to over 75,000 qualified government and security industry readers, essential to meeting today’s growing security challenges to ‘Secure our Nation, One City at a Time™’.

To learn more visit www.americansecuritytoday.com, or contact AST by email at admin@americansecuritytoday.com or phone 646-450-6027.

Evolv Technology Awarded SAFETY Act Designation for Evolv Edge®

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Evolv Technology today announced Evolv Edge®, its people screening system that detects weapons and bombs, has achieved the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Designation. Following a rigorous application and due diligence process by DHS, the Evolv Edge is now a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT).

As part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Congress enacted the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act (SAFETY Act) to provide incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the threat of liability does not deter potential manufacturers or sellers of effective anti-terrorism technologies from developing and commercializing technologies that could save lives. The process to obtain the SAFETY Act designation involves extensive review of the product, its use and experience – including a review of test results; operational, manufacturing and quality assurance practices and effectiveness; and feedback from customers.

“The SAFETY Act Designation mitigates the impact of terrorism related lawsuits, allowing our customers to focus on what’s most important: providing a seamless experience for their visitors and employees that helps keep them safe,” said Mike Ellenbogen, CEO at Evolv Technology. “This Designation provides further validation and reassurance for Evolv Edge customers that the technology can be used effectively for its intended purpose of detecting and preventing physical security threats – ultimately helping people feel safer in places they visit.”

“Venues like sports stadiums need to employ a comprehensive, multi-layered plan to ensure the safety and security of their fans, players and staff,” said Mark Sullivan, a member of the Evolv Technology Board of Directors and former director of the United States Secret Service. “Part of this effort includes carefully evaluating security technology to help protect against the kinds of threats we’re increasingly seeing in our world today. Security teams look for technology, such as the Evolv Edge, that is validated by the SAFETY Act to provide peace of mind that their technologies are working as they should, enabling them to be proactive before an event happens, and provide the safest visitor experience possible.”

Evolv Edge takes the hassle out of people screening by consistently scanning for bombs and weapons without the need to empty pockets. The result is a positive experience for both employees and visitors. The systems have screened millions of people at many different types of venues globally including performing arts venues, sports stadiums, transportation hubs and government institutions. For example, Oakland International Airport (OAK) installed the Evolv Edge earlier this year to enhance its employee screening program; and an iconic tourist attraction with peak traffic of 13,000 visitors per day is using Evolv Edge for daily visitor screening.

Evolv Edge also recently completed operational testing and evaluation by Safe Skies and was successfully tested by TNO, an internationally recognized detection and testing facility, among other certifications and awards. For company news and updates, follow Evolv Technology on Twitter at @EvolvTechnology and on LinkedIn.

About Evolv Technology

Evolv Technology protects everyone’s fundamental right to be safe in all the places people gather. The company prevents threats before they occur by consistently scanning everyone for weapons and bombs without the need to stop or empty pockets. With Evolv, a positive visitor experience is balanced with a proactive approach to enable security anywhere, without disruption to traffic flow – including at transportation hubs, sports stadiums, entertainment venues, hotels and conference centers, airports, special events and government agencies. The company is led by veterans of the physical security industry and advised by U.S. and international security and counter terrorism experts. Evolv is headquartered in the Boston area. For more information, visit www.evolvtechnology.com.

The SAFETY Act Designation – Why It Matters to You

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Today, we’re extremely proud to share that we have been awarded a SAFETY Act Designation as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT) from the Department of Homeland Security for our Evolv Edge® system. The SAFETY Act (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act), enacted in 2002, was designed to encourage the development and utilization of anti-terrorism technologies in the U.S. Without the protections the SAFETY Act provides, companies like Evolv, both large and small, would not be shielded from potential liability claims, and might therefore be unwilling to assume the risk of developing and deploying new, cutting edge anti-terrorism technologies. The SAFETY Act encourages continued innovation in the fight against terrorism, and those products recognized under this program have been put through a rigorous evaluation process.

Those who are considering and evaluating physical security systems can be assured that products that have achieved this Designation have been thoroughly vetted and validated to perform as designed to prevent terrorist acts. And for those who are already customers, a SAFETY Act Designation is just further proof that you made the right decision.

But assurance of product performance is only one benefit. The SAFETY Act not only shields sellers from civil liability if there is an act of terrorism but also shields the buyers who are using SAFETY Act Designated products.

That’s right – the SAFETY Act states, “The SAFETY Act created liability limitations for claims resulting from an act of terrorism where Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies (QATTs) have been deployed. The Act applies to a broad range of technologies, including products, services, and software, or combinations thereof. Parties covered under the SAFETY Act are referred to as “Sellers” and can include any person, firm, or other entity that provides a QATT to customer(s) and to whom a Designation has been issued. The Act applies to claims against the Seller of a QATT that are filed in United States courts. Similar claims may not be brought against the buyers, buyers’ contractors, or downstream users of the QATT.”

The SAFETY Act doesn’t only apply to technology. You can also apply to get a SAFETY Act Designation for your facility and organization. Countless shopping mall properties, corporations, stadiums, and sporting leagues have applied for and achieved the Designation. Deploying detection and prevention systems, like the Evolv Edge, is one component that will help you on your path to achieve the SAFETY Act Designation when combined with a comprehensive plan.

I know first-hand just how important this distinction is as this is the second time I’ve received the SAFETY Act Designation. The first was for the Reveal CT-80, a product I created when I started Reveal Imaging Technologies. It was the first explosive detection system (EDS) to be certified as an approved product for Homeland Security under the SAFETY Act.

1: So just how rigorous is it to obtain a SAFETY Act Designation? Here’s some of the criteria:

2: Prior United States Government use or demonstrated substantial utility and effectiveness

3: Availability of the technology for immediate deployment in public and private settings

4: Magnitude of risk exposure to the public if the technology is not deployed

5: Evaluation of scientific studies that can be feasibly conducted to assess the capability of the technology to substantially reduce risks of harm

6: Effectiveness of the technology in facilitating the defense against acts of terrorism

The SAFETY Act benefits everyone – it allows companies to create products that protect the public. It allows businesses to deploy the products that protect the public. And, most importantly, it allows the public to be safer when using facilities that have SAFETY Act Designated products in place.

For more information on Evolv’s SAFETY Act Designation, please read the press release.