Standard chartered has a history of over 150 years in banking and is present in many of the world's fastest-growing markets. It has an extensive global network of over 1,200 branches in over 50 countries around the world.

At the head office in Sri Lanka, Harshan Jayasinghe, head of strategic sourcing, security & business continuity planning, wanted a means by which to ensure the safety of staff, customers and property within the premises. Additionally, there was a requirement to restrict the access of personnel to different departments in the building and keep a record of who had requested access to which areas.

Based on their reputation in the region, Mr Jayasinghe called in Safrex International (Pvt) Ltd to help him decide on the best way to achieve these objectives. On Safrex's recommendation, Mr Jayasinghe decided on an access control system consisting of Paxton access equipment. In all, 44 readers - an entry and exit reader on each door were installed over the five floors of the building. NET2 Prox ISO proximity cards are assigned to individual personnel and programmed to allow access to designated areas. Cards can also be given out to visitors, allowing them access to required departments.

The bank also wanted to be able to monitor who was using which areas, so Net2 professional software, with a time and attendance function, was installed. Net2 is an intuitive windows based software that allows for event reporting and can organise and report up to 10,000 users and hundreds of doors.

Should an employee loose their card, or a visitor leave the site with one, the system can be immediately updated to remove all access permissions from the card. A new card can then be assigned as necessary. "The ability to render a missing card unusable gives us instant control over the situation and removes any threat of someone using that card to gain unauthorised access," says Mr Jayasinghe.

To ensure that the system runs reliably, no-matter what, Safrex have built in a 48 hour battery back up to the system. Additionally, they provide 24-hour assistance with on-site attendance guaranteed within the hour. "The service we offer doesn't just end with the installation," says Udith Mahapatuna, Director for Safrex. "For a client in the financial industry, it's imperative that we support the system and provide them with the reassurance they need."

An essential part of the service they offer comes from a close relationship with distributor Norbain SD Ltd. "We started working with Norbain in 2003 and have found that they offer the best quality equipment, fantastic service and great value for money," says Mr Mahapatuna. "Their attitude toward their customers, particularly in the area of after sales care, is a key element in our strong relationship with them."

"We're very happy with the new system. As well as improving security and peace of mind, we've been able to make significant cost savings as we no longer have to rely on using floor security guards," concludes Mr Jayasinghe.