TDSi introduces “powerful new features” for GARDiS security systems range

Tina Baker, TDSi’s software project manager, commented:  “The new functions are available as licensing options right now, making them an easy and highly affordable addition for any size and type of security and safety project. The expanding GARDiS range provides end users with powerful options to scale their security and safety systems in order to meet rapidly changing needs and circumstances, while at the same time protecting budgets by ensuring capital expenditure costs are kept to a minimum.”

While developed to support common security needs, the new Lift Control integration, Area Occupancy and ANPR features are particularly well suited to the evolving safety requirements of workplaces realized due to COVID-19. Lift Control, for instance, can be used not only to make moving between floors within a building more efficient (and secure), but also to limit the direct contact of authorised passengers.

Area Occupancy provides obvious benefits in reducing the numbers of people within a secure area (including support for ‘traffic light’ systems) and ANPR additionally provides further records of those present at a facility to enhance track and trace data, as well as granting secure access to vehicles.

Security and safety functions

The new features join a raft of other security and safety functions which are now an integrated part of the GARDiS offer. With the original version of the GARDiS software brought to market at the end of 2019, TDSi introduced Version 2.0 in October last year. This added further functionality including fire door release and Site Lockdown functions, alongside integration with ASSA ABLOY’s Aperio and SimonsVoss SmartIntego wireless locks.

It’s available in two versions: Express, which is free of charge and enables the inclusion of 20 doors, and PRO. The latter enables the end user to add as many additional door licenses as required at one site for one organisation.

The PRO version provides security installers with the perfect base to provide Software-as-a-Service from a single-installation web browser-based application that’s fully modular and scalable. It also features a REST API (‘Fusion’) option and full Software Development Kit, enabling it to be integrated with a wide variety of video management software solutions, Time and Attendance or third party control systems.

To make the integration between the powerful GARDiS software and secured access points even easier, TDSi’s GARDiS access controllers are also designed to integrate seamlessly with it. With a web server embedded in the hardware, these controllers are cyber secure and easy/quick to install (with one, two or four-door versions available to suit all requirements and budgets). The ability to add four door slave units to these master controllers ensures a highly cost-effective system for the end user.

Reduced downtime

Tina Baker continued: “The latest enhancements are joined by the ability to update the GARDiS firmware directly through the software’s online connection. By doing away with this previously manually intensive process, we now ensure reduced downtime, remove inconvenience for the installer and help support social distancing as well.”

Baker concluded: “By building the GARDiS ecosystem around a secure online approach, TDSi is providing installers and end users alike with a highly flexible, secure, user-friendly, reliable and future-proof integrated solution which is constantly enhanced, refined and improved. Further enhancements will be unveiled later on this year.”