As the popularity of internet banking increases and the demand for conventional bank counter activity reduces there is increased reliance on ATMs and other transaction devices. Making the appropriate infrastructure adaptations represents a big challenge for banks and for their security. The increasing number of unmanned areas mean that security, especially CCTV, is needed more than ever. In fact wherever cash is handled, CCTV is vital: at conventional teller counters and ATMs, at cash centres and at every step along the cash logistics chain, as well as at data centres and other data infrastructure sites.
As the popularity of internet banking increases and the demand for conventional bank counter activity reduces there is increased reliance on ATMs and other transaction devices. Making the appropriate infrastructure adaptations represents a big challenge for banks and for their security. The increasing number of unmanned areas mean that security, especially CCTV, is needed more than ever. In fact wherever cash is handled, CCTV is vital: at conventional teller counters and ATMs, at cash centres and at every step along the cash logistics chain, as well as at data centres and other data infrastructure sites.
Meantime banks have also been migrating from analogue video systems to IP ones, and adding HD or megapixel video. Generally in this situation their initial requirement is for hybrid solutions which can replace a mixture of different system types with one common system while incorporating their existing (predominantly analogue) cameras. Geutebrucks's re_porter_bank+ was conceived as the ideal platform to meet this need. Essentially it is an entry level ‘omnibrid' business surveillance solution specifically designed and configured for the banking environment which can be used with analogue and/or IP cameras.
* Flexibility
The re_porter_bank+ is intended for dealing with the variety of situations, components and peripherals found in a large existing network of branches and locations. It comes with 4, 8, 12, or 16 analog inputs which can be expanded up to 19 Geutebruck channels with three IP sources and supports the use of many different brands of IP cameras. With 1Gbit onboard Ethernet the re_porter_bank+ offers TCP/IP-based digital matrix functionality and unlimited (LAN/WAN) integration potential. Each unit can take up to 4 hard disks for video database storage.
The re_porter_bank+ has camera position analysis and motion detection features to trigger alarms if there is any tampering with the video system itself or if an intruder is detected in any sensitive areas of the site. It can of course be integrated with existing branch alarm, access control and ATM systems. So at night and out of hours it protects against break-ins and vandalism by detecting intruders, forwarding alarms to a remote control centre, carrying out guard tours and documenting events.
* ‘Omnibrid' technology
Geutebruck's ‘omnibrid' technology allows the use of all current compression algorithms and standards – H.264, H264CCTV, MPEG4CCTV, M JPEG and ONVIF compliance – as well as audio recording, for analogue and IP cameras. It supports H264CCTV, H.264 and MJPEG formats with freely configurable resolutions. In addition, it can transcode M-JPEG streams from IP cameras into MPEG4CCTV or MPEG4CCTV/MP (megapixel) CCTV-optimized formats. This has the advantage of enabling the user to use highly advantageous specialist CCTV processes like dual channel streaming (DCS) and dynamic live streaming (DLS) which deliver large network and storage savings.
Geutebruck's video sensors and intelligent video analysis software are well-known for their reliability, while its own specialist, CCTV-friendly, standard-compliant compression processes retain fluid motion, and consequently valuable detail, in situations where the vast majority of other H.264 implementations hesitate and shudder. A key advantage of this new omnibrid technology is that it enables video streams from third-party image sources to be processed using Geutebruck's proven video analysis software. It therefore provides more scope for intelligent data management, enabling different compression formats to be used for different purposes, and gives system designers much more scope to achieve optimum customisations.
* An all-in-one banking solution
Conceived as an all-in-one banking solution, the re_porter_bank+ more than meets the specifications of the BVG, the body which regulates video security systems in German banks and other cash-handling institutions. Its regulations cover details such as the location of cameras, picture resolutions, recording rates, the format of pre- and post-incident histories, evidential security and even the system maintenance regime – all with a view to deterring hold-ups, or failing that, to obtaining useful evidence of events.
As a consequence of this German regulation Geutebruck has extensive experience of exchanging metadata with other systems (e.g. ATMs, access control, building management systems and others) and the capabilities of the re_porter_bank+ include some specialist functions which are now of increasing relevance and interest internationally. For example, the re_porter_bank+ was designed to fulfil the legal requirement that all German financial institutions should document all cash withdrawals at ATM machines, whether these are on their own premises or in public areas. So where ATMs are located in foyers secured by access control systems, the re_porter can record card data when the customer presents his card to the card reader at the foyer door; video as he enters the foyer; video as he approaches the ATM; a portrait from the portrait camera as the customer's cash card is read by the ATM; account data as the transaction is processed; video of the customer's hand taking the cash from the ATM and then video of the scene as he leaves the foyer. In short it provides a comprehensive package of readily available, water-tight evidence on each ‘event' which avoids the enormous costs which could otherwise be involved in investigating card fraud or vandalism.
* Securing banks is a company tradition
Geutebruck is no newcomer to the banking sector. It owes its very existence to supplying banks with the latest security solutions. In the 1970s it was the development of an unconventional film camera which helped solve German bank robberies and brought early success to the company. Later the long-running Multiscope range of digital video platforms were used in their thousands in banks worldwide. Now Geutebruck's GeViScope+ is the obvious choice for central banks and major institutions and the re_porter_bank+ the trusty workhorse for high street branch networks.