21 Nov 2017

As technology continues to catapult forward at a significant pace in the 21st century, banks are increasingly facing new security challenges to safeguard their buildings, staff, customers, and financial operations. Because of this, it is critical that banks invest in security systems that meet the complex and unique requirements of the financial environment.

Vanderbilt’s SPC provides this solution through advanced, dedicated intruder detection features and products for banking applications. SPC offers versatile operation and comprehensive alarm management functionality. With the support of cloud services, end-user apps, and a dedicated software suite, this puts SPC at the forefront of modern intrusion detection.

Credito Cooperativo consortium

Italy’s Credito Cooperativo (BCC) consortium of banks are found throughout the length and breadth of the country and have served local communities for the past 134 years. There are 317 mutual not-for-profit organisations comprising over 4,300 branches, all of which work together to guarantee a range of products in keeping with the values and identity of a cooperative. Vanderbilt’s SPC is a true hybrid intrusion detection system that meets EN 50131 standards and has unmatched flexibility and scalability

Headquartered in Cesena, Banca di Cesena e Banca di GATTEO Credito Cooperativo S.Coop is the first member of the BCC to initiate a new security infrastructure. The bank wanted a system that offered integrated between access control and intrusion detection as well as being reliable, easy to install and future proof.

Hybrid intrusion detection

Vanderbilt’s SPC is a true hybrid intrusion detection system that meets EN 50131 standards and has unmatched flexibility and scalability. SPC5000 and SPC6000 control panels are being installed at each branch, with the former able to be expanded per specific customers and project needs with up to 128 zones, 128 outputs, 16 system keypads, 16 doors and eight verification zones. SPC6000 expands upon this functionality with up to 512 zones, 512 outputs, 32 system keypads, 64 doors and 16 verification zones.

SPC Connect offers the ability to customise how data is viewed by setting up a feature that allows Smart Security to manage and control access rights to individual panels and groups of panels. This means that tasks such as configuration management, troubleshooting, and regular maintenance can be carried out remotely, saving massive amounts of time and money, and enabling a swift resolution to any issues.

SPC Connect integration

The control panels are being fully integrated with Vanderbilt’s pioneering SPC Connect system – a cloud-based solution that allows Smart Security to monitor, manage and control the SPC control panels remotely from any location.

Personal security devices, such as the SPC Wireless Personal Alarm, increase the confidence and security of bank employees, while SPC also offers a set of specifically defined ‘Financial’ area types for ATM and vault environments with pre-defined times and enhanced security functions.

Here’s how it works. Users can define the period during which an ATM or vault remains unset. Once that period expires, the ATM or vault automatically sets to an interlock group, thus denying further access to other ATMs or vaults if any area within a group is unset.

The dual PIN feature is another measured safeguard, requiring two PINs to be entered within 30 seconds to set or unset an ATM or vault. Meanwhile, the All Okay feature requires users to confirm ‘All Okay’ on entry, otherwise an alarm is generated.

Banks wish to operate in an open and friendly layout while safeguarding their customers, staff, and assets

Monitoring safety

Central Monitoring Stations (CMS) working with SPC quickly and correctly identify the source of any alarms. As a direct consequence, the number of needless callouts due to false alarms can be significantly reduced. For example, if the bank manager arrives early, he uses his card to gain access to the branch office and PIN to disarm the alarm. His code disarms the office and secure area but the ATMs, vaults, and safe deposit boxes remain armed. 

A Central Monitoring Station is alerted to the early entry. They need to know whether the entry is routine or under duress. The monitoring station views the manager in live video as he executes a predetermined security procedure and until he hits an “All Okay” button. If there is a problem the manager sends a silent duress alarm rather than the “All Okay” button. The monitoring station can listen in and if necessary call the police.

Multiple layers

This is just one layer of automated security that Vanderbilt provides to protect banks and other financial institutions. For instance, SiPass® integrated (a product made by Siemens AG) offers protection against cyber threats and intellectual property espionage. Personal security devices, such as the SPC Wireless Personal Alarm, increase the confidence and security of bank employees SiPass meets current IT security requirements for data protection and delivers the highest data security through encrypted data transmission throughout the network. SiPass is one Vanderbilt solution used at Bank Pekao, a Polish financial institution considered to be one of the safest banks at the pan-European level.

Seismic detectors are designed for monitoring of ATMs, 24/7. They have been developed for false alarm immunity and even the subtlest attacks can be detected at a very early stage, repeatedly triggering an alarm that gives ample time for intervention. 

Importance of security in banking

Security in banking is an essential issue. It requires thoughtful attention and procedure while allowing room for agility, adaptability, and dependability – flagship traits of the Vanderbilt brand. Banks wish to operate in an open and friendly layout while ultimately safeguarding their customers, staff, and assets. Vanderbilt’s solutions respond to these expectations and enable effective safeguarding foundations to be laid.