What comprises an effective security solution for financial institutions? A&S talks to two system installers, ADT and CERTIS Cisco, to hear what makes a security solution rock-solid.
What comprises an effective security solution for financial institutions? A&S talks to two system installers, ADT and CERTIS Cisco, to hear what makes a security solution rock-solid.
ADT: Proven Record Protecting the Financial Industry
ADT has delivered proven solutions to the financial industry for more than 130 years. Today, among banks, credit unions and savings and loans of all sizes, it leads with integrated solutions that go beyond traditional security. ADT helps secure eight of the top 10 banks in the United States, half of the 75 largest financial institutions, tens of thousands of community branches and countless ATMs.
Big banks and community credit unions alike count on security standards to keep operations efficient and secure. For Citizens Financial Group, with 4,200 branch and ATM locations throughout the Northeast and Midwest, ADT upgraded the bank's mixed alarm technologies to a single, open-architecture security standard. Now, the bank's internal security command center, also an ADT system design, monitors and reports all system-wide alarm, access control and surveillance conditions on the bank's IP network, significantly lowering security communication costs.
In addition, at Compass Bank's 400-plus branch and operations facilities, ADT provides systems and services that tighten security and manage risk for this growing Birmingham, Alabama-based financial leader. Through a bundled ADT equipment installation service agreement, Compass upgraded the bank's entire facility alarm network and replaced outdated VCR surveillance recorders with more productive digital video technology. The result? Smarter ADT security and financing solutions, which helped the bank save more than US$2 million in capital reductions and spared the cost of replacing old equipment.
It offers video surveillance and video storage (monitors, multiplexers and accessories), advanced video management solutions (standard or customized), DVRs and storage, cVideo and SecurVision remote video (DVRs and central station live-monitored solutions), ADT Select interactive video monitoring services, intrusion detection and control, a wide range of open architecture, including digital alarm technologies that are capable of access control, video and fire alarm integration, and full perimeter, interior and object protection.
ADT Focus systems are for small to medium enterprise applications with wireless alarm components like receivers, door contacts, holdupduress buttons and bill traps. AlarmNet, TelGuard and Skyroute offer parallel cellular protection, while the ADT Select DataSource provides 24/7 customized, browserbased alarm activity reports delivered to desktops. The false alarm dispatch reduction (FADE) program is an ADT-designed, customer-managed alarm reporting and monitoring system with MAS Mastermind front-end security controls, open-architecture alarm panels, and fire and life safety (fire, smoke, heat, water and carbon monoxide) sensors.
In terms of electronic access control, ADT offers stand-alone and fully integrated solutions for all card reader technologies: biometrics, smart, proximity, swipe and RFID tracking. The ADT Select Entry provides Web-hosted access control, while EntraPass is for computerbased, entry-level applications. The Secure Perfect, WIN-PAK and EntraPass are for mid-level applications like badging, surveillance interface, alarm monitoring, elevator control and floor plan graphics. The CCURE 800/8000, Secure Perfect and Picture Perfect are robust systems for multiple administrators, badging and alarm monitoring work stations and remote servers.
Furthermore, ADT Monitoring Centers provide special operations monitoring for financial and national accounts, while ADT's Select suite of interactive monitoring services delivers the following: video alarm verification, guard tours and video assistance. Its SelectVision Audit provides productivity video audits of security, operational and logistics procedures.
CERTIS Cisco Security
With nearly 50 years of experience and a proven track record in protecting lives and assets, CERTIS Cisco offers a comprehensive range of security services from auxiliary police and protection officers to one-stop solutions for security technology, IT and information management for government agencies, businesses and homes.
The evolving threat of large cyber attacks has made Internet security a key concern for the banking and financial sector. As a complete security solution provider, CERTIS Cisco's subsidiary e-Cop provides the first layer of protection. In a vibrant economy like Singapore's, cash circulation activities involve movement of huge volumes of cash from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to banks and, subsequently, from banks to supermarkets, jewelers and independent retailers.
Increasingly, banks recognize the value of engaging competent advisors to identify and manage security risks. CERTIS Cisco Security Consulting provides security planning and design for new bank premises, security review and audit, project management for installing and commissioning security systems, security management services, education, training and seminars, investigation services, and technical surveillance counter measures as well as computer forensic investigations, and business continuity planning and management.
To enhance off-site security, cameras are deployed at all ATM locations to enable banks and CERTIS Cisco to verify anomalies such as fraudulent transactions. All ATMs managed by CERTIS Cisco use a dynamic locking mechanism that scrambles the combination code each time it is activated. Each unique code is transmitted to the cash-in-transit teams upon authentication via CERTIS Cisco's Integrated Operations Centre. This creates a strong security layer surrounding ATM access.