Connected Platform for Detection and Prevention

Insight developed Connected Platform as a flexible, scalable Internet of Things (IoT) solution for delivering unified visibility and control over an entire network of smart devices and sensors. Our simple, customizable application provides a single pane of glass through which organizations can easily manage any aspect of business: people, places and things. Beyond developing the platform, Insight’s Connected Solutions encompass the procurement and integration of IoT devices, the addition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning models, as well as the ongoing management of these systems.

Earlier this year, as organizations across public and private sector began to issue guidelines for wearing masks, handwashing and social distancing, our team quickly recognized the parallels between previous use cases for Connected Platform. From thermal sensors and computer vision to Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking, the same foundational technologies combined in new ways can help organizations improve visibility around public health and safety.

By acting as a unified foundation for any and all smart devices across locations, Connected Platform allows organizations to think holistically, developing more comprehensive strategies for a safe and healthy return to public life. Rather than simply checking employee temperatures upon arrival through a single entrance, Connected Platform makes it possible to automate and scale these checkpoints as needed. Users can easily manage alerts and log data with as much or as little Personally Identifiable Information (PII) as desired to support policy compliance or contact tracing efforts. 

Thermal cameras offer an initial step to help detect symptoms, but as we begin to allow people back into more densely populated spaces, organizations will need to focus on more preventive solutions, such as mask detection, social distance adherence and contact tracing. Connected Platform offers the framework to help organizations leverage computer vision, machine learning and other advanced analytics to enable these capabilities.

We’re currently working with partners across our industry network to develop a strategy that encompasses these offerings. We also recognize that this will be a process of learning and refinement as new devices are deployed and new insights gained. Leveraging Connected Platform and aggregated data in the cloud, organizations will continue to discover new and more meaningful ways to improve processes and solutions. 

Different camera models have different accuracy levels and specs depending on configuration and environment. Bolide recommends 3–5 meters (roughly 5 yards) for their cameras. Many larger camera models come with a calibration box that improves accuracy and can work even when employees or guests are wearing masks, sunglasses, hats, etc. Certain types of thermal devices are recommended only for indoor use. Generally, if thermal cameras are placed outside, they should be set up under a tent or even in a parking garage if possible. Standard practice is to ask employees or visitors who have engaged in heavy exercise or spent an extended period in the sun to cool down before having their temperature checked..

Yes, cameras will need to be calibrated upon installation. There is real-time configuration capability built into many devices to reduce the need for recalibration — we can't say it won't ever be required — but that’s the intended capability per the manufacturer. It can also depend in the environment in which you deploy it. Set up indoors, there will be less variance, whereas outside under an awning there will be more variance. Real-time calibration is beneficial, but some tweaking along the way may be required.

Yes. Most cameras are POE, but they also come with a calibration box that needs to be in the view of the camera to improve accuracy. That device needs power as well, so this will need to be factored into the layout.

We’ve helped GOJO, makers of PURELL, develop several different options for their SMARTLINK™ dispensers. This solution was originally used to help healthcare organizations gather data on usage and leverage real-time alerts and predictive analytics to optimize inventory. These are typically battery powered and able to send data directly to the cloud. More advanced models even use RFID scanners to track and incentivize individual usage.

We’re actively integrating these dispensers into Connected Platform to allow users to manage these devices alongside cameras, sensors and other connected solutions.

We recognize this is a critical and ongoing discussion as new laws and regulations will continue to evolve over the next few months and years. Connected Platform offers a flexible framework designed to simplify and automate your existing policies — but it’s ultimately up to your organization to determine what, if any, PII will be collected, stored or used.

Depending on your goals, alerts can be sent or trends gathered around social distancing or mask usage without recording any personal information. Smart wrist bands or traffic cones can provide visual reminders directly to end users without requiring staff intervention. When scanning for temperatures, automated notifications or emails can be used in place of audible alerts to prevent this information from being shared in public. Whatever approach your organization chooses to take, we can adapt the Connected Platform environment to fit these needs. 

You can determine who has access to information and alerts through role-based access to Connected Platform. Given the sensitive nature of data, we make it easy to manage users, roles and permissions to ensure that only the right people are alerted to take action while maintaining employee privacy. Organizations will need to develop their own policies regarding what data is collected and stored, then we adapt the technology as well as the data and actual people flow to fit those requirements.

In general, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has provided guidance that employers may lawfully implement temperature screenings for employees as a response to COVID-19 without violating HIPAA or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That said, each organization will have different compliance requirements depending on their role in the data collection process. Therefore, clients should consult their own advisors for guidance on their organization’s specific compliance and legal obligations, including whether their organization is a considered HIPAA-covered entity that’s subject to HIPAA compliance.

In implementing the Connected Platform solution to help with your overall risk management program, the type of data as well as how it’s collected, transmitted, processed, stored and used is ultimately up to your organization. Connected Platform doesn’t require temperature data to be collected or stored with any PHI. Clients have the ability to set up or configure Connected Platform so that collected data is stored in a HIPAA-compliant or other secure location that meets their unique compliance requirements. 

Facial recognition is one of many technologies that can be supported by Connected Platform. However, it isn’t considered a core piece of the Connected Platform for Detection and Prevention, nor does the functionality of the Connected Platform rely on facial recognition to help detect for symptoms and prevent the spread of disease. .

Data is encrypted from the edge to the cloud. Information ingested at the edge is sent securely (TLS 1.2) to Connected Platform, hosted in the cloud, where access is secured with authentication and authorization controls. The edge devices themselves are onboarded using best practices to ensure only authenticated devices are permitted to communicate with the platform. Depending on your data retention requirements, the system can also be designed to prevent data from being stored at the edge.  

The ultimate value of Connected Platform is in the ability to securely aggregate data in the cloud to gain greater insights across devices and locations. But for those organizations that are looking for a purely on-premises solution, we can help you get set up with thermal scanners or other devices that will trigger alerts without collecting any data at all. We’re willing to work with you to understand the solution that best suits your organization’s needs.

Insight has long-standing relationships with state, local and federal agencies across the U.S. Our teammates have the experience to help you navigate the laws and regulations pertaining to your particular branch. We’ll work with you to deploy Connected Platform in a way that meets government requirements.

We’re working to design a series of tiered offerings to help meet the needs of various organizations. While some small to midmarket businesses may only need a few cameras to help meet their requirements, larger enterprises may have more to gain from laying the foundation for future IoT efforts with Connected Platform. Our team will work with you to evaluate your needs and make recommendations that make sense for your goals. 

Our initial focus is on North America, but Insight does have a global reach and we’ll be looking to expand these solutions. If you’re interested in deploying outside of North America, please contact an Insight representative.

The Insight Digital Innovation team developed and manages the Connected Platform, but our extensive industry partnerships and capabilities as a super solution integrator are what enable us to deliver any and all technical aspects of this solution.

In addition to Insight’s deep relationships with trusted technology partners, procurement and our proprietary Software as a Service (SaaS) subscription model, our team will integrate devices with your Active Directory^® and network (if desired) as well as deploy and manage these systems so you can focus on getting back to business. With experts across infrastructure, security and development, we manage every aspect of implementation — helping you not only solve short-term challenges but also lay the foundation for long-term value.

Insight will manage as much or as little of the process as you require. We’ll recommend and/or source cameras, sensors and other smart devices based on your specific needs, price points, user experience and goals. We’re actively evaluating more than 30 different partner solutions to develop a set of tiered, pre-built and custom offerings to simplify some of this analysis for our clients.

Schedule a quick conversation with one of our experts to talk about the goals and scope of your project. We’ll help you decide which approach makes the most sense for your environment and your budget.