Cisco's IPICS Solution Examined

A key component of Cisco's emerging physical security strategy is the integration of three systems: surveillance, access control and communications. Their communications offering is called Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System or IPICS for short.

As IPICS will be a point of differentiation for Cisco's overall 'physec' offering, we are going to examine its functionality, technical requirements, cost and applications.

Prior to joining IPVM this summer, I was a network engineer for a Cisco Channel Partner. One of my larger projects was designing and deploying a statewide IPICS solution that integrated stand-alone analog radio systems through a government run IP network and interfacing them with networked PCs.

Inside the Pro section, I explain the various components used, their approximate cost, the key issues faced and best applications fit.

Since IPICS is likely new to many of you, below is a short video we grabbed from YouTube with Cisco's own product intro: