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 access ******* ********:

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

*******

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

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

Comparison *****

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

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

Management ********

******** **** *** **** ***** management ******** ** **** versions. *** *** ********** with *** **** *********** and ******* *** **** access ******* ********, *** differ ** ******** *******, multi-site ***********, ****-****/********** *******. *** versions ******** **** ****** features **** ********** **********, door ********, *******, *** badge ********.  *********** ******* to ***** ************ *** intrusion ******* *** *********, but ********* ******* ********** modules. *** **** ******** is ********* ** **** different ********:

  • ********:******** * ****** ******* 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 *********** *** *********. ******* simple '****' ***** ***** when ********** ******* ******* are *****.  ********** ******** like *****, ***********, *** servers/workstations *** *** ******** but ******** ** *** system.  ***** ***** *** to *** ***** ****** cost ** *** ********* available.

**** ******** ** * ****** product, **** ** ****** public *********. ******* ******* is *** ******** *********, but *** ** ***** included ** *** ********* and ******* ********** ********. 

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

**** **** ******* ********** (SSAs) *** *** *********, and *** ***** **** is ******** **** *** initial ********. ***** **** ***, renewals *** ********** ** cover ******* *******/********* *** to ****** ******* *** new *** ***** ******* like ******* ** *******.

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

******** **** *******

*********, ******** ******** *** major *****-***** ******** ******* series: **** ******. ****** Symmetry ******** **** ********* Salto, *** *** ******* version (**) **** ***. *** company ***** ** **** plan ** ******* ******** AD ****** ***** ***** this ****.

********** *******

**** ************* *** ******** its *** **** ** proprietary ********, *** ****** ******* for *** ***** *********** like *** *****, *** Edge, ******* ******** ********, and **** ***** **** controllers.

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

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

** *******, **** ****** this ******** ********* ** *** party *******. *** ******* drawback *** ******** ** the ******** '******** ***********' of ***** ********** ****** a ****** ** ******* which ****** '********' ******** of **** ******* *** dealers, *** ** ******** are ********* **** ******** they ** *** *** a ******* ***** *** adding/changing ********** ********.

Reader *******

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

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

** ***** ** ***********, reader ******* *********** ****** all ********** ***, ******, and *** ******* ** 125 ***, **.** *** Smartcards. **** **** ******** * range ** ********* ******* from ******, *** ******, Entertech/Suprema, *** ***.

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 *** *******

*** ******** ******** * ****** app *** *** *** Android ***** **** ******* that ******** ***** ****** features **** ********** **********, live **** *******, *** alarm/event *********, *** ******* live ***** *********** **** - ** **********.

**********

*******, ****'* ******* ******** 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

Dahua 4K Camera Shootout on Aug 20, 2019
Dahua's new Pro Series 4K N85CL5Z claims to "deliver superior images in all lighting and environmental conditions", but how does this compare to...
ZK Teco Atlas Access Control Tested on Aug 20, 2019
Who needs access specialists? China-based ZKTeco claims its newest access panel 'makes it very easy for anyone to learn and install access control...
Suprema Biometric Mass Leak Examined on Aug 19, 2019
While Suprema is rarely discussed even within the physical security market, the South Korean biometrics manufacturer made global news this past...
Biometrics Usage Statistics 2019 on Aug 13, 2019
Biometrics are commonly used in phones, but how frequently are they used for access? 150+ integrators told us how often they use biometrics,...
Proactive CCTV "Only Affordable Video Archiving Solution" Profile on Aug 12, 2019
Proactive CCTV is claiming to offer "the only affordable video archiving solution on the market", reducing the storage typically required for H.265...
Milestone "GDPR-ready" Certification Claim Critiqued on Aug 12, 2019
Milestone is touting that its latest XProtect VMS is "GDPR-ready" with a 'European Privacy Seal'. However, our investigation raises significant...
ProdataKey (PDK) Access Company Profile on Aug 09, 2019
 Utah based ProdataKey touts low cost cloud access, wireless controllers, and no dealer required national distribution availability.  But how does...
Axis Door Station A8207-VE Tested on Aug 07, 2019
Axis newest door station, the A8207-VE, claims to deliver "video surveillance, two-way communication, and access control" in a single device. But...
Dahua Analytics+ Tested on Aug 07, 2019
Dahua's analytics have performed poorly in past shootouts. But now, they claim their new Analytics+ "algorithms significantly improve accuracy and...
Razberi Technologies Company Profile on Aug 06, 2019
Razberi says they have doubled their revenue in the first half of 2019, citing their proprietary camera hardening and cybersecurity capabilities...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Uniview Beats Intel In Trademark Lawsuit on Aug 19, 2019
Uniview has won a long-running trademark lawsuit brought by Intel, with Beijing's highest court reversing an earlier Intel win, centered on...
Suprema Biometric Mass Leak Examined on Aug 19, 2019
While Suprema is rarely discussed even within the physical security market, the South Korean biometrics manufacturer made global news this past...
Verkada People And Face Analytics Tested on Aug 16, 2019
This week, Verkada released "People Analytics", including face analytics that they describe is a "game-changing feature" that "pushes the...
Dahua OEM Directory 2019 on Aug 16, 2019
US Government banned Dahua OEMs for dozens of companies. The following directory includes 40+ of those companies with a graphic and links to...
Installation Course - Register Now on Aug 15, 2019
Register Now for the September 2019 Video Surveillance Install Course. This is a unique installation course in a market where little practical...
Axis Suffers Outage, Provides Postmortem on Aug 15, 2019
This week, Axis suffered an outage impacting their website and cloud services. Inside this note, we examined what happened, what was impacted...
Hikvision Scrutinized In The Netherlands on Aug 15, 2019
Hikvision is facing unprecedented scrutiny in the Netherlands, at the same time the US government ban has taken effect. This week, a Dutch...
Axis 4K Camera Shootout 2019 on Aug 14, 2019
Axis' 4K Q3518-LVE claims the "best video quality possible", with Lightfinder super low light performance, Axis' high end Forensic WDR, and...
CheckMySystems Company Profile on Aug 14, 2019
CheckMySystems says that too many users respond, "I get an email when something is wrong" when talking about their video system maintenance plan,...
Hikvision OEM Directory on Aug 13, 2019
The Chinese government-owned and US-government banned Hikvision has become the world's largest video surveillance manufacturer and generally hidden...

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