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Your money or your life

During renovation and refurbishment work, financial institutions often take the opportunity to update their security systems to the latest technology. In addition to protecting money and property, this also serves to ensure the safety of employees and customers and to avert dangers, such as hold-ups, break-ins, theft or fires.

Video surveillance systems in combination with advanced access control systems protect public and non-public areas from unwelcome visitors. But modern security systems can do even more: They are also able to record employees’ working hours and can help banks to minimise their administrative costs.

Everything in view

The central component of the security concept according to the provisions of the German professional trade association is a video surveillance system. Used in teller and counter areas, it not only serves as a deterrent but also makes it possible to document and preserve evidence in the event of a hold-up. If a robber puts on or takes off a mask in the foyer area, the recordings can be used in the identification process.

Video surveillance systems also document all activities at the self-service terminals – portrait and money-to-hand cameras can be used to verify withdrawals or misuse of cards. Particularly in those foyers that are accessible at night, these systems play a key role in preventing vandalism, loitering, or spying. Intelligent video surveillance systems that detect certain types of behaviour automatically, for example, help with these requirements and support the financial institutions in their day-to-day business processes.

Network technology and IP-based video cameras, as well as connection to a support service and consequently the opportunity to view live images, round off the monitoring system. The installed cameras grant security personnel an overview of the situation on site at all times so they can take immediate action.

IP-based access control and time recording

As well as providing protection, access control systems can also be integrated in a time-recording system. Many banks have already discovered the benefits of this approach in terms of efficiency. For example the Sparkasse Gladbeck, a German bank, commissioned Bosch Security Systems to implement a combination of IP-based access control and time recording. The aim was to record the times employees entered and left the building and thus reduce the internal administrative efforts.

The decentralised solution chosen by Bosch consists, like other access control systems, of three basic components: the controller, the readers installed on doors, and the connecting electric door openers or motorised locks. The latter are linked to the access system controller in the conventional way. However, instead of the typical system that manages the controller, in this case it is linked to the data centre of the parent company of Sparkasse Gladbeck. Here they use software to assign authorisations and control access on site, with integrated emergency exit control as usual. Finally, the elevator that leads to the safety deposit box area is fitted with a reader: Clients – and they alone – gain access using their bank card.

As requested by Sparkasse Gladbeck, Bosch also integrated a time recording system. This only necessitated the relevant reader terminals, without the need for a controller, as they are connected directly to the data centre of their parent company. Beyond the basic calculation of working times, it is also possible to import data into an accounting system for wage and salary payments.

The bank’s IT system has also been protected using certificate-based access control: The PCs are systematically locked with a card and any unoccupied PC is protected from unauthorised access. By using multifunctional, non-personalised hybrid cards issued by the Sparkasse, it was possible to integrate all three functions (access, time recording, and PC log-in) in one medium.

Overall, the decentralised solution chosen reduces administrative efforts and costs for the Sparkasse. At the same time, the security level within the closed network is extremely high. The use of access cards to unlock PCs enhances security in the network and prevents data theft. While there were no direct interfaces, and while it was not possible to fully integrate the access technology into the intrusion detection and video surveillance system, a smart combination of all systems was developed. It now reliably prevents attempts to access areas monitored by an intrusion detection system. An IP-based video surveillance system rounds off the entire security concept.

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