No Compromises
Salim Idris looks at how banks can reinforce their security measures with High Definition CCTV without compromising their IT networks
When it comes to the application of sophisticated security techniques in the banking environment – to keep assets, staff and customers safe and secure – financial institutions are looking carefully at how they can seamlessly integrate advances, such as High Definition CCTV and the monitoring of their cash machines (ATMs), into their existing infrastructure.
A key issue for banks is to ensure that these additional security measures can be added without impacting negatively on business operations, including the ability to conduct financial transactions over their IT network.
High Definition CCTV
Looking at the introduction of High Definition (HD) megapixel CCTV cameras and associated recording and display solutions, this undoubtedly represents a major watershed in the capability of CCTV systems for banks. Specifically, the quality and speed with which images can now be provided and the potential to accurately identify suspects and achieve successful convictions. The main advantage for banks is that they can take advantage of the image resolution and quality necessary to replace their costly and inflexible, standalone, 35 mm wet film based cameras with a more capable networked alternative.
Of course, a key consideration given the larger sizes of the HD images being captured by mega pixel cameras in specific customer facing areas, is how to actually manage this alongside existing analogue CCTV cameras.
The solution we advocate is to combine the ability to set up a segregated high bandwidth network for local High Definition IP recording and low bandwidth IP connectivity to the corporate network, readily storing high resolution images as close as possible to the mega pixel cameras, but offering an ability to reduce the size of the images through transcoding so they are optimised for transmission. The advantage of this approach is that a remote operator can call up images from the associated DVR without overloading the network and be confident that a highly detailed version has been recorded locally for evidential purposes.
ATM protection
An ongoing security challenge with regards to banking is the safe operation of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) whose accessibility makes them a convenient target. Advanced CCTV systems, specifically remotely accessible DVRs, are now the very heart of efforts to deal with this type of threat.
The ability of compact networked digital DVRs installed in ATMs to record evidential quality MJPEG locally from their associated cameras, and simultaneously support low bit rate data streaming in a bandwidth efficient compression format by transcoding for remote viewing, is extremely advantageous in terms of integration, keeping bandwidth demands on the bank’s network to an absolute minimum.
When it comes to implementing this important ATM protection measure, this ability to manage network usage is a key benefit for banks where, not surprisingly, financial transactions have to be very much the priority. Local recording also had the added advantage that even if there is a network failure, recording is not nterrupted or vital evidence lost.
In terms of customer service, particularly managing customer disputes, the potential to link metadata to images and apply text search engines for post event analysis is a powerful tool for the bank. Staff can now handle customer queries regarding ATM transactions in a timely and positive manner, whether it concerns one machine or across a number of ATMs, by simply inputting specific search parameters such as the customer’s account number to call up images.
Effective integration
So the message to banks when considering enhancing their surveillance capability is to look carefully at the implications of developments from High Definition CCTV to ATM monitoring and, crucially, when choosing a solution adopt one with features, such as transcoding, so images have can stored and transmitted in a size and format which best matches the available network infrastructure.
 Salim Idris is general manager ( Middle East) of Dedicated Micros. For more information, tel: +971 4 390 1015/6/7, GSM: +971 50 4500 149. Email: SIdris@dmicros.com or visit the website www.dedicatedmicros.com www.dedicatedmicros.com
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