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Integrating existing technology and AI

Financial institutions require strict security processes governing staff and visitors (including unwanted visitors), from the perimeter, right into their campuses and buildings. Many already have surveillance solutions in place, but it can be a costly affair to replace or upgrade these systems to newer ones with the latest in AI and analytical functionality to streamline access control.

Andre Vermeulen, GM at Secutel Technologies, says the company has developed two products, which when integrated with one another address both concerns. The first product, SecuTraq Cloud uses real-time cloud push technology, and when deployed at a boom or entry point, is used for facial recognition and the automatic collection of number plates. These ‘events’ are immediately pushed to the cloud for verification.

“The second is SecuVue, which when integrated with the SecuTraq platform, allows for facial recognition and LPR to be done automatically,” says Vermeulen. “A further benefit is the automatic standard operating procedure (SOP) escalations via email. This allows the email recipient to know who is there and if they or their vehicle has been recognised previously, if necessary (if they are on a blacklist, for example).”

In terms of the cost factor, SecuVue and its AI functionality was developed with a ‘low-bandwidth snapshot capability’. The product takes optimally placed cameras on the existing network and using the SecuVue CVR (Cloud Video Recorder) and Cloud Video Bridge, bridges the existing CCTV architecture to the cloud. Thus, there are lower costs of deployment as existing camera systems can be used.

“The CCTV analytics is done as frame-by-frame analytics rather than in video analytics, thus further reducing the need for cumbersome on-site servers and additional fees.”

The above technology works on any ONVIF-compliant camera DVR, NVR or XVR. As the videos are sliced into frames, the limitations on bandwidth are reduced to negligible levels. Secutel also further offers redundancy methods for communication to the server if needed.

Human access via mobile

While facial recognition and LPR are growing, personnel are increasingly using mobile devices as access credentials.

“The main benefit of mobile access is secure keyless entry to a site,” notes Vermeulen, “as it requires the user, with their device, to be present on site. Furthermore, cards get lost and PINs are forgotten, whereas a user is less likely to forget their mobile device. There is also no need to increase the footprint of installation with multiple different devices needed for biometric scanning as mobile access technologies put the key back in the user’s hands. It is also a more hygienic-conscious decision.”

Using the NoKey mobile app from Secutel allows access for people, but it also makes administration easier. Specific user rights are given to app users, such as account managers or administrators, and that allows them to access the functionality they require. It is also easy to revoke access when users leave the company, without the need to be on-site. Additionally, the scheduling function ensures that people have restricted access outside of specific hours or days, even allowing access only at customisable, specified times.

When integrated with the solutions mentioned above, NoKey not only additionally allows for the arming and disarming of partitions, and the ability to set up procedures such as double-knock setups, it includes the added benefit of snapshots to visually verify an alarm activation and assign a response to the identified threat. “There are also remote panic features on NoKey that allow the authorised person to send silent duress to the control monitoring teams.”

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