Financial institutions deploy anywhere from ten devices at a single branch to thousands across multiple locations. Security departments of every size need to be able to manage all devices across their enterprise and constantly monitor these systems. In addition, as financial institutions continue to grow in size and complexity, they must also ensure that they deploy and maintain a physical security foundation that will safeguard both their people and assets.

As beneficial technology continues to develop and emerge, institutions are seeing a rise in cyber threats, along with physical security risks. These growing vulnerabilities require that financial institutions have a security strategy that protects against both physical and cyber threats. Incorporating multiple and varied lines of defense including encryption, multi-layer authentication, and authorisation is essential to mitigating these threats.

Five factors to consider

1. Flexibility in choosing hardware

Whereas a proprietary appliance limits choices, an open architecture solution allows institutions to choose hardware, platform, and IP edge devices, including IP cameras, access control hardware, and IP intercom stations that work best for the individual organisation.

2. How to protect data

Cyber crime impacts privacy and the bottom-line. Organisations require solutions that offer built-in security mechanisms that protect sensitive data and information, supported by an organisation that understands unique challenges.

3. Fostering agility

Security teams require high-speed access to video evidence and the ability to control edge devices easily and securely from any location or device, including tablets and smartphones.

4. Navigation at every branch

When an alarm is triggered or a threat is detected, security personnel must know where they’re going and what they should expect when they arrive. To address these concerns, a map-based interface can make all the difference.

5. Mitigating risks

If a threat is detected or a network failure occurs, a system that can automate threat levels and act accordingly, even without human intervention, is needed. These institutions also need a solution that ensures the highest percentages of availability and redundancy.

Benefits of a unified system

• Tighter control - secure, manage, and track all access to technology centers, data centres, and sensitive areas.

• Complete camera coverage - manage all video, access control, and intrusion devices across multiple sites from one user interface.

• Easy evidence sharing - using incident recording software, evidence can be retrieved and packaged from multiple cameras as a single video clip that includes video sequences, alarms, and notes.

• Increased network efficiency- when local storage for cameras and recorders is not practical, set data transfers to occur after hours when other critical systems are not monopolising the network.

• An all-in-one platform - with all security information under one platform, security personnel don’t have to log on and off between different systems to access important data.

• Access from anywhere - the ability to quickly log on to security systems from anywhere using a phone, tablet, or laptop improves and expands review and response capabilities.