Page 106 - Security Today, November/December 2019

By Kim Rahfaldt
Security Solution Saves Money
System Upgrade
Streamlining operations may help the human condition
An independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition boasts many accomplishments in the areas of health, energy, workforce develop- ment, environmental sciences and social policies. It is also highly involved in research projects that help communities or local gov- ernments in foreign countries.
The employees work on highly-sensitive projects that require strict security. The headquarter campus and 11 field offices throughout the United States used two dif- ferent legacy security systems. The head- quarter location system did not have the capacity to meet their growing needs; they were rebooting the system three times per week to keep it running, the holiday sched- uling did not operate correctly and keeping cards loaded in the access control panels was a challenge. The other U.S. office loca- tions were using a hosted physical access control system, which lead to exorbitant operational and maintenance fees at these locations.
When it came to upgrading these legacy systems, the global security manager and the systems administrator conducted their own research and discovered AMAG Technolo- gy’s Symmetry Access Control system.
The Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), located at the company headquar- ters, is the point of contact for threats and global travel incidents, and the central hub where all security is managed: access con- trol, video, mass notification, License Plate Recognition (LRP) and Long-Range Vehi- cle Credential readers. As the research institute acquires new businesses and offic- es, they convert the existing system to Sym- metry, and monitor the new offices within the GSOC.
Super User Status
The institute’s forward-thinking security team researches its own systems and finds creative solutions to solve its security challenges.
For example, the system administrator created a button within the system that locks down the campus. Tapping into the card plus
PIN mode feature in Symmetry using an HID reader without a keypad, doors would only open for security officers and emergen- cy responders if the system administrator enabled executive card mode on their card holder record.
If there is an active shooter or emergency, they can lock down building by building. With one click they can shut down all of campus and keep a shooter out or try to slow him down.
More than an access control system, the system is used to troubleshoot door hard- ware when door-forced and door-held open alarms occur. By proactively managing Sym-
metry, they reduced the number of unneces- sary alarms received and streamlined their security processes.
They have reduced the number of alarms coming in to the point where their officers trust the information and alarms they are getting and send patrol officers to any loca- tion that might have a door problem or a break in. All alarms mean something and need escalation.
Years ago after some potentially danger- ous employees and contractors were termi- nated, the institute deployed a stand-alone License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Long Range Vehicle Access Credential system to
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