AMAG Access Control Company Profile

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Mar 18, 2016

In our 12th access control company profile, we examine AMAG Symmetry access control platform:

  • Comparing AMAG to their competition
  • Examining their management and client software
  • Reviewing their product and support costs
  • Covering their hardware and wireless support
  • Explaining their video integration
  • Detailing competitive weaknesses

Profile

Symmetry is AMAG's access platform sold and supported by a global dealer channel. Symmetry is used by a variety of users who might use other VMSes and Intrusion Alarms, but do not typically need to integrate a diverse selection of other systems. For many advanced features, AMAG sells various add-on modules including intercom control, elevator controls, mustering, threat event mass notification, digital guard tours, in addition to its own VMS, a Salient OEM named CompleteView, and central intrusion management.

AMAG is owned by security conglomerate G4S with ~$9 Billion 2015 revenues and 600,000+ employees. In North America, G4S has 7 different business units specializing in security guards, systems integration, guard-staff, corporate security, investigations, and risk assessment. AMAG is the core product and Symmetry is the base software platform for many G4S offerings.

Comparison Graph

The table below contrasts Symmetry versus relative competition based on common differentiation factors like system size, platform 'openness', ease of video integration, and how the product is sold or available:

** ******* ****** ******* ******* profile, ** ******* **** Symmetry ****** ******* ********:

  • ********* **** ** ***** competition
  • ********* ***** ********** *** client ********
  • ********* ***** ******* *** support *****
  • ******** ***** ******** *** wireless *******
  • ********** ***** ***** ***********
  • ********* *********** **********

*******

********** ****'* ****** ******** sold *** ********* ** a ****** ****** *******. Symmetry ** **** ** a ******* ** ***** who ***** *** ***** VMSes *** ********* ******, but ** *** ********* need ** ********* * diverse ********* ** ***** systems. *** **** ******** features, **** ***** ******* add-on ******* ***************** *******, ******** ********,*********,****** ***** **** ************, ******* ***** *****, in ******** ** *** own ***, ******** ********************, ********** ********* **********.

****** ***** ** ******** conglomerate******* ~$* ******* **** *********** ***,***+ *********. ** North *******, *** *** 7 ********* ******** ***** specializing ** ******** ******, systems ***********, *****-*****, ********* security, **************, *** **** assessment. **** ** *** core ******* *** ******** is ******* ******** ******** *** many *** *********.

Comparison *****

*** ***** ***** ********* Symmetry ****** ******** *********** based ** ****** *************** factors **** ****** ****, platform '********', **** ** video ***********, *** *** the ******* ** **** or *********:

[***************]

Management ********

******** **** *** **** basic ********** ******** ** four ********. *** *** compatible **** *** **** controllers *** ******* *** same ****** ******* ********, but ****** ** ******** support, *****-**** ***********, ****-****/********** support. *** ******** ******** core ****** ******** **** cardholder **********, **** ********, mapping, *** ***** ********. Integration ******* ** ***** surveillance *** ********* ******* are *********, *** ********* require ********** *******. *** base ******** ** ********* in **** ********* ********:

  • ********:******** * ****** ******* 64 ******* *** * concurrent *******, ***** ********** as *** ****** ********.
  • ************:******** * *** ** 512 ******* *** ******** Symmetry *** ********, ***** ********** ** the ****** ********.
  • **********:******** '*********' *******, **** limited ** ******** ******, using * **** ********* instance ******* ** **********. This ******* **** ******** server ******** ************* ******* ****** (****)** *********.
  • ******:********** ** ********** *******, but **** ********** ******* of ****** ************ ** Enterprise ********.

Central ****** *********

**** **** * ******* server ** **** ********** software *** ****** *************. All **** ******* *********** with **** ****** ** push **** / ************* changes ** ******* ***********, or ******* ******* ****** information. ** ********** ******** is *** ** ********** panels, ******* ***** * Windows ** ***** ****** to **** *** ********.

Platform ****

******** ** ****** **** that * * **** entry ***** *** ****** about $***- $*** *** door. ****** ******* ***** 'per ****' **** ***** as **** ***** *********.

*** *******, ** * reader ****** **** ** IP ************* ***** **** **********,***** ********, ** *********, 8******** **** **** ********** ********* ****** ************ ~$****, ** ~$*** per *******. *********** ********** ******** ***** ranges ******* $*** - $750 ********* ** *** number ** ******* ******, but ***** **** ****** volumes.

** ****, ********** ***********,*** ********, ** ***** are *** ******** ***** can *** $*** - $500 *** ******* *** are ****** ******** ********** in *********** *** *********. However ****** '****' ***** grows **** ********** ******* modules *** *****. ********** hardware **** *****, ***********, and *******/************ *** *** included *** ******** ** the ******. ***** ***** add ** *** ***** system **** ** *** otherwise *********.

**** ******** ** * dealer *******, **** ** direct ****** *********. ******* pricing ** *** ******** available, *** *** ** found ******** ** *** schedules *** ******* ********** programs.

Ongoing *********** *****

**** **** ******* ********** (SSAs) *** *** *********, and *** ***** **** is ******** **** *** initial ********. ***** **** one, ******** *** ********** to ***** ******* *******/********* and ** ****** ******* for *** *** ***** devices **** ******* ** readers.

*** **** ** *** SSA ** ******* ** a ********** ** *** MSRP ***** ** *** AMAG ******** ********* ** a ******, ********* **% ** *** system *****. **** ******* ******* an *** ** ********* at *** ********** ** the ********** ****** *** will ** ******* ******** updates.

Wireless **** *******

*********, ******** ******** *** major *****-***** ******** ******* series: **** ******. ****** Symmetry ******** **** ********* Salto, *** *** ******* version (**) **** ***. The ******* ***** ** they **** ** ******* Allegion ** ****** ***** later **** ****.

Controller *******

**** ************* *** ******** its *** **** ** proprietary ********, *** ****** support *** *** ***** controllers **** *** *****, HID ****, ******* ******** products, *** **** ***** door ***********.

********** * **** ****** of ******* **** ***** 3rd ***** ******, *********:

  • **-**** **** **********: **** *** ****, PoE ******* ********** ***** it's *** ******** *** provides *** ** ** pass ******* ** ***** devices. ******* ** ~$***, similar ** ***** *** price ** ** *** Edge *** (******* ~$***) or **** ***** (******* ~$550).
  • ***** **** **********: **** ***** ****** controls ** ** ** doors, *** ** ****** or ******* *********. ******* ranges **** ~$**** - $3500 ********* ** ****** of ******* ******, *** is ******* ***** ** the *** ***** *****/**** (costing ~$**** - $****).

** *******, **** ****** this ******** ********* ** 3rd ***** *******. *** biggest ******** *** ******** is *** ******** '******** replacement' ** ***** ********** should * ****** ** desired ***** ****** '********' exposure ** **** ******* for *******, *** ** endusers *** ********* **** Symmetry **** ** *** pay * ******* ***** for ******/******** ********** ********.

Reader *******

******** ********** ****** ******** is *****. ***** **** supports *** **** ******* protocol, *** ********** ** for * *********** ******** named ****. ******** **** not ***********.

****'* **** ******** ***** with******** ******* *************, *** ****** ******* supports *************, ********** ************* that ****** ****** ******** not ******** **** ******* alone. ******* *** **** to *********** *******, ******** supports*** ****** **************-***** ***** *** **** readers** ****.

** ***** ** ***********, reader ******* *********** ****** all ********** ***, ******, and *** ******* ** 125 ***, **.** *** Smartcards. **** **** ******** a ***** ** ********* readers **** ******, *** Global, *********/*******, *** ***.

Video ***********

******** ********~** *** ************, ********* ********* ****:

  • *********
  • *****
  • ********
  • *****
  • *****

****'* *** ***** ******* includes ** *** ** Salient************, **** ****** ************* covering**** ******* ****** *** current ********* ** ******** ******* * **********.

** ***** ** *********, video ****** *** ********** as ******** ** *** access ******* ***** ******, including *********** ******* *** door ******** ******. *** default *********** *********** ****** recordings ** ** ******** by ****** ****** (**: 'forced ****') ** ** system *** ****** (**: individuals ******** **** * specific ****) ** * tight ****** *** **** in **** *********.

No ***** ********

**** **** *** ***** a ****** ******* ** Symmetry, ******* ******* ** local *******. ***** ********** users *** *** ** configure ***** *** ****** to ** ******** ********** using *** ******** *** client, ***** ** ** factory ****** ****** ** preconfigured ******** *********.

Remote *** *******

*** ******** ******** * mobile *** *** *** and ******* ***** **** Harmony **** ******** ***** access ******** **** ********** management, **** **** *******, and *****/***** *********, *** limited **** ***** *********** only - ** **********.

**********

*******, ****'* ******* ******** are ***** ** *********** hardware ******* *** ******* integration *******. ** *******, taking **** ******** ******* is *** ** ****** for **** *******, ** it ******** ********* ******** hardware *** **** ** significantly **** ********* **** if ******* ******** ** other *** ***** ******** is ****. ****, **** end-users *** ** ****** to ********** * *** proprietary ******** ******, ******* limiting *** ************* *** AMAG *******.

** *******, ****'* ********** on ****** ***** ********** is * ******** *** the *** ******, ***** serverless ** ******** ********* are ***** **** *********, like********* ******,******** ******** ***, ****** ***** *******.

*** ****** ** ****'* restricted ************ ******* ****** dealers ***** ** ** issue *** **** ********. Symmetry ****** ******* *** well-developed ** **** *****, especially ** ***** *******, but ***** *** **** support ******* ******* ** just * *** ***** choices.

Comments (0)

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Maglock Selection Guide on May 16, 2019
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
Access Control Request to Exit (RTE) Tutorial on May 13, 2019
For access controlled doors, especially those with maglocks, 'Request to Exit', or 'RTE' devices are required to override electrified locks to...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Kidnapping Victim Rescued With Video From Ring Doorbell Camera on May 24, 2019
A kidnapping victim was rescued within 24 hours, with the police crediting video from a Ring Doorbell camera as key to solving the case. A girl was...
NJ Law Requires Apprenticeship For Public Works Integrators on May 24, 2019
Few integrators do a formal apprenticeship program. However, now a NJ law is requiring any integrator on public works projects (such as state...
Security / Privacy Journalist Sam Pfeifle Interview on May 24, 2019
Sam Pfeifle is best known as the outspoken former Editor of Security Systems News. After that, he was publications director at the International...
Verkada Video Quality Problems Tested on May 23, 2019
Verkada suffers from numerous video quality problems, not found in commercial IP cameras, new IPVM testing of Verkada vs Axis and Hikvision...
Average Frame Rate Video Surveillance 2019 on May 23, 2019
What is the average frame rated used in video surveillance systems? In IPVM's 2011 statistics, the average was 6-8fps increasing to ~10fps in...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 22, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact