Converged security: a workable solution
Security is a contentious issue for government as it guides South Africa through an increasingly competitive world as it moves towards 2010. Whether national, provincial, municipal or personal, government has an important role to play in protecting its people and assets.
The traditional means of providing security by appointing people as police officers or guards simply is not working as there is too little budget to meet the country’s needs. Using technology to assist in security operations, be it access control to sensitive areas, patrolling city streets, crime prevention and even criminal apprehension, is the only way government will get a handle on security in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
As the leading converged security company in South Africa, in other words, the organisation leading the field in terms of size and skills when it comes to combining technology and security services, i to i technologies can and is playing an important role in securing the commercial and public sectors in South Africa.
Empowered for business
The company is a technology-enabled security and risk management group, formed from the merger of three entities CommsCo, Detexis and Intervid, each a specialist in the ICT or security fields. Committed to the success of the company as well as to the future of South Africa, i to i technologies is 45% black owned, while over 50% of the board’s voting power rests in black hands. Hlumelo Biko is a director of i to i as well as Circle Capital Holdings, one of the black empowered companies invested in i to i technologies. Biko notes that i to i not only leads the industry in terms of the services it offers, but also in terms of black participation from the board down.
“From a skills, experience and black empowerment perspective, i to i is well placed to meet all the requirements government has of South African companies. Our empowerment is not merely a share deal, but is constantly on the agenda as we ensure the company is representative of the South African population.”
When it comes to black empowerment, i to i is ahead of the pack, according to the company’s chairman, Andrew Mthembu. Mthembu is executive chairman of Imphandze Investment Holdings, another empowered shareholder of i to i. He says converged risk management solutions are definitely the solutions to many of the security problems government will need to address in the run-up to 2010.
Mthembu also notes that real black empowerment, as employed at i to i, will not only benefit the company’s shareholders and its growing number of staff, but will also have a knock-on effect in the broader community as additional jobs are created to support and supply i to i. Procurement at i to i is focused on using companies with the appropriate empowerment credentials.
Deriving intelligence from technology
With Ehlobo Holdings as its third empowerment shareholder, i to i’s CEO, Hans de Nysschen adds that the organisation’s black partners were not chosen simply to warrant a good BEE rating. “We wanted our empowerment partners to be actively involved in all levels of the business, board, management and operations, and we have achieved this.”
De Nysschen sees enormous potential for i to i as it operates in an industry worth some R40 billion in South Africa alone and is growing at over 25% per annum.
“We are not simply another CCTV or access control supplier, but offer an integrated, proactive single view of an organisation’s risk profile. It s not about the technology we use, but the security intelligence customers derive from the effective use of technology.”
Cutting municipal crime
As an example of the effect technology can have on improving security services, Martin Jones from i to i‘s Durban office says the company’s solutions have already made an impact in certain KwaZulu-Natal municipalities.
In the Port Shepstone town centre, part of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality, dome cameras have been installed at taxi ranks and on the town’s main streets. The town’s central monitoring staff have since been very successful in cutting criminal activity in, for example, illegal drug trading and muggings.
Jones says similar success has been achieved in Margate and Ladysmith. In each of these areas, i to i has designed and implemented the security solution to allow for centralised monitoring and management, which in turn provides for more efficient use of limited human resources. Instead of having police patrol a large area in the hope of preventing crime, camera operators can direct personnel to the areas where they are most needed and where they can have the greatest effect.
“A similar, centralised system has been installed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, offering camera surveillance, fire detection and access control facilities – once again from a central management point,” says Jones.
Broad spectrum of existing involvement
i to i has substantial skills in key areas of government influence. Ian Downie, who deals with key accounts for i to i, states: “We have numerous initiatives which affect government directly. These include integrated solutions for airports and ACSA, control room and video surveillance measures for Denel, and a secure environment at Freedom Park.
“In a number of schools we provide holistic risk measures to allow our children a safe, crime free campus. We have risk solutions in place with the Justice Department and are responsible for security measures at the Reserve Bank. Our involvement in most of the major stadia endeavours to ensure a risk free road to 2010. We have substantial engagement with the SAPS and provide mobile command centre vehicles to them. Our street systems allow communities to live in a safer area where crime is greatly reduced due to the systems deterrence and effectivity value.
“Our focus is on driving a definite outcome using people and technology applied to the specific process of the particular client.”
In closing
“We believe i to i is well poised to work with government in improving the safety and security of all its citizens,” states sales and marketing executive, Richard Groenewald. Not only does i to i possess the skills and experience in both the ICT and security world, with the ability to combine the two into a comprehensive solution, the company is also empowered by its shareholders who have a sterling record, strong financials and a broad network of associates in the commercial and public sectors.”
Groenewald believes i to i is in a premium position to assist government in the mammoth task of rolling out converged security solutions across the country. “If government is to deal with the security issues South Africa faces and make 2010 a success, making optimal use of technology in support of human resources is the only realistic solution.”
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