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Integration defines estate security

November 2014 saw Hi-Tech Security Solutions hosting another Executive Breakfast, this time in Durban at the Durban Country Club. The focus on the event was on residential estate security and over 50 estate managers and security managers from the surrounding area were in attendance, along with seven exhibitors. (A brief report on the exhibitors is available at 'Residential Security Breakfast Sponsors'.)

Managing an estate is a tough job as one is constantly faced with people who think they know how things should be done, or those who don’t care about security or rules, thinking they only apply when convenient to them. In between dealing with people and their problems, security is an essential part of estate management, but it has to be almost invisible and cause as little inconvenience to residents and their guests as possible.

Making technology work in the modern secure estate

Rob Anderson

Starting the event, Rob Anderson, MD of Rob Anderson and Associates, a consulting security and electrical engineering firm, gave the audience some insights into the evolution of estate security as well as some key issues that need to be addressed.

Anderson started by saying that since people cause crime on people, people will also be the solution to the problem. This has been true since the first official golf estate was developed in South Africa and still holds true today.

Fortunately, while each estate has its own character and is different, most of the security problems encountered are common to all. The first problem all encounter is the entrance/exit layout. Anderson sketched the requirements for any entrance to an estate, noting that designers need to cater for residents, guests and contractors that may arrive on foot or in vehicles.

He also noted the importance of the Protection of Personal Information (PoPI) Act in estates that collect information from visitors as they enter the estate. This data needs to be properly stored and protected, and the visitors need to be informed of what the information will be used for and how long it will be stored. PoPI will have a significant impact on all visitor management and access control solutions in the near future and estates need to make sure they comply to avoid unnecessary legal complications.

Anderson also touched on issues such as surveillance camera use on estates as well as the processes that need to be in place to ensure effective security. This includes problems such as disaster management and the seemingly inconsequential, yet crucial issue of synchronising the time across all electronic devices.

Challenges facing security operations on estates

Basil Schreiber

Basil Schreiber, estate manager for the Izinga Management Association and previously the security manager and then estate manager for Mount Edgecombe Estate Two, followed Anderson. He provided his personal perspective on the challenges of securing estates.

Estate security in South Africa is far ahead of other countries due to the fact that we have a much worse criminal environment to deal with. However, the security objectives of estates remain the same, albeit for different reasons.

Schreiber noted that people purchase property in residential estates because they have the perception that they are secure and it is the estate manager’s job to ensure the estate lives up to these expectations. He said the people who buy are usually successful people who have earned the right to the exclusivity of these estates. On the other hand, the security operators on estates usually come from the other side of the tracks, or at least these are the perceptions many have and this can lead to conflicts.

One of the main areas in which we see problems arise in securing estates comes from this contrast. While owners buy into the community and security of the estate, as well as the rules set up by the residents, leaders in the field often ignore the rules when convenient for them to do so and therefore create problems.

Schreiber noted that despite this, security operatives must have set processes and procedures to follow to ensure they adhered to the rules, they need to be able to accept challenges from successful people who may act aggressively, without responding in kind, and they – especially estate and security managers who have to be a protector as well as a negotiator.

Schreiber then highlighted a few problems that were common in estates and suggested potential remedies. He ended by noting that technology, training and people were necessary components of a successful security operation, while also noting there was often a balance to be kept between securing the estate and its residents, and ensuring that the rules of the estate were applied to all.

Integration means efficiency

Gus Brecher

Gus Brecher, MD of Cathexis Africa was up after the breakfast break. He spoke on how technology, and specifically integrated technology solutions can dramatically improve the effectiveness of estate security.

Brecher started by looking at the various technologies available for estates to choose from, beginning at the perimeter where there are many solutions one can use to keep intruders out or warn when they are trying to get in. However, he focused on the use of thermal cameras as a means by which security operations can be warned before an intrusion occurs. For example, using analytics on these cameras can warn the control room when someone comes within a few metres of the perimeter, giving the guards time to react before a breach occurs.

Due to the fact the thermals read heat signatures, there is no need for extensive lighting, even in the darkest nights, and the contrast the cameras pick up makes analytics easier. Of course, the disadvantage is the footage can’t be used to identify anyone, and thermals are more costly. He therefore suggests combining these with megapixel cameras, which do a great job of identification, be it people or number plates.

He provided examples of different resolutions, clearly demonstrating that multi-megapixel cameras will deliver the resolution required for identification. Brecher also noted that the resolution required naturally depends on where the camera is placed and what it is supposed to be capturing.

Brecher then touched on access technologies, specifically fingerprint, facial and iris biometrics. He also mentioned other technologies such as smartphones and Bluetooth security solutions before talking more about analytics. Video analytics offers intelligent automated decisions that catch what humans would normally easily miss and prompt operators to take timeous action.

Integrating the various technologies in a control room that uses analytics to deliver automated decisions not only allows estates to make better use of their individual solutions, but it empowers security operators to deliver a more effective and efficient service. As he noted in his conclusion, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

A R22 million journey

Vagn Nielsen

Vagn Nielsen, CEO of Helderberg Village ended the presentation with an overview of the challenges and solutions Helderberg came up with in its recent R22 million security overhaul.

Nielsen started by noting that criminals are refocusing their attention. Large estates are the new shopping malls and the 'shoppers' are always looking for cheap and easily obtainable bargains. Estate managers need to be aware that organised crime is targeting estates as easy pickings and prepare their security technology and people.

To minimise the risk, access controls, perimeter controls and surveillance – which is monitored – is essential. At Helderberg, all staff must be cleared by SAPS, be they security staff or contractors. All visitors have their biometrics captured and their identity verified. The perimeter fence and intruder alarms (in the individual homes too) are monitored and all alarms responded to. In addition, intrusion tests and risk assessments are undertaken on a weekly basis.

Part of the upgrade has seen the village install 54 thermal and HD cameras on fibre optic network which is connected to an onsite control room, manned 24/7 and supported by onsite armed response units and medical staff. These are supported by integrated access control processes and systems at the gates, with strict access protocols.

Helderberg’s security is currently outsourced to two external security companies to provide 24-hour services. The one provides guarding services, access control and roving guards. The other manages the monitoring of the electric perimeter fence, intruder alarms in each dwelling unit and armed / medical response teams. This prevents collusion as the guards keep an eye on each other as well as the estate.

The above is a short summary of each presentation that does not adequately convey the quality of the presentations and the information the speakers delivered. Following the event, the visitors were extremely complementary about the speakers as well as the opportunity to informally speak to the exhibitors during the breaks. Hi-Tech Security Solutions thanks the speakers and exhibitors, as well as our guests for their time and commitment.

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