The benefits of centralised management

Residential Security Handbook 2022: SMART Estate Living Integrated Solutions

For estates, integrating multiple services within one central operating platform provides many benefits. Not only does it allow for fast, effective responses to any security event, but it also enables operators to efficiently manage other estate operations from one platform, creating a streamlined, functional and safe environment for residents, employees, contractors and visitors.

Choosing a platform that meets the needs of your site is vital. Estates often look to integrate security solutions such as perimeter, access control, intruder alarms and video management, into one operating system, enabling them to quickly detect, assess and respond to any security threats.

Considering a solution that supports multiple integrations is key and we encourage sites to think about what services they could integrate beyond their security solutions. Integrating monitoring for critical services, such as electricity metering, generators, water tanks and more, alongside security, offers complete situational awareness, ensuring efficient operation of services and a prompt response to any alerts. This allows sites to identify potential faults early, such as a generator failing, allowing time to respond before an issue becomes critical.

Improved experiences for operators and residents

An integrated system offers security from curb to core and can create an efficient, user-friendly experience for both operators and residents. For example, a large estate operating Gallagher Command Centre with integrated biometric access control readers can create operational efficiencies for operators and improve resident experience at the same time.

Integrating biometric readers means residents are never inconvenienced by forgetting an access card, key, or PIN – their credential always remains with them. Credentials can’t be lost or misplaced, saving operators the time and hassle of issuing replacement credentials and offering residents peace of mind knowing a misplaced credential can’t be used to gain unauthorised access.

This same estate could also utilise an integration with long range RFID readers to streamline resident access onto the estate. Residents’ vehicles are fitted with windshield tags which allow quick and easy access through boomgates, without the vehicle having to stop.

Further operator efficiencies offered by platforms such as Command Centre include the ability to automatically generate reports which can be sent by email to the appropriate people, such as estate managers. These reports could be an overview of activities from a specified period of time (i.e., a week or month), or in response to a specific security event. For integrated systems, this can save operators considerable time, as all the data is easily and automatically accessed through one system.

Mobile technology has also improved efficiencies by enabling operators to monitor and manage systems from outside the control room. Gallagher’s Command Centre Mobile app securely connects an operator’s mobile device to Command Centre, providing greater control by allowing them to manage alarms, respond to door open requests, trigger pre-configured activities and more from any location.

An integrated central management platform is vital for effective operations. Gallagher Command Centre supports numerous integrations to provide effective, efficient protection from the fence line, inwards.


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