Access Control

5 Advantages of Turret Security Cameras for Video Surveillance

Turret security cameras are an essential piece of equipment for any business or home security system. Turret cameras offer numerous advantages over other types of video surveillance, including a wide field of view, improved image quality, and increased weather resistance.

Why choose a Turret Security Camera?

Turret security cameras, also known as dome cameras, offer several advantages in surveillance and security systems. Here are the top five benefits of using a turret security camera:

1. Versatile and Flexible Design:

Turret cameras are known for their versatile design, allowing them to be mounted in various locations and environments. They can be installed both indoors and outdoors and offer flexibility in terms of adjusting the viewing angle and direction of the camera. This adaptability makes turret cameras suitable for a wide range of security applications.

2. Wide Coverage and Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) Capabilities:

Turret cameras typically have a wide-angle lens, enabling them to provide a broad field of view. They can monitor larger areas compared to traditional fixed cameras, reducing the number of cameras required for comprehensive coverage. Additionally, many turret cameras come with PTZ capabilities, allowing operators to remotely pan, tilt, and zoom the camera for closer examination of specific areas of interest.

3. Vandal and Tamper-Resistant:

Turret cameras are designed with a dome-shaped housing that protects the lens and internal components from vandalism and tampering attempts. Their sturdy construction makes them highly resistant to physical damage, such as attempts to cover the lens or disable the camera. This robustness ensures the cameras continue to function effectively, providing reliable security surveillance.

4. Discreet and Deterrent Effect:

Turret cameras are often chosen for their discreet appearance. With their compact size and sleek design, they can blend seamlessly into various environments, making them less noticeable to potential intruders. However, their presence is still effective as a deterrent, as individuals may be aware of the surveillance system and think twice before engaging in criminal activities.

5. Day/Night and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) Capabilities:

Many turret cameras are equipped with advanced imaging technologies to deliver high-quality video footage under various lighting conditions. They often have infrared (IR) LEDs for night vision, allowing them to capture clear images in complete darkness. Additionally, WDR technology enables the camera to handle scenes with both bright and dark areas, ensuring balanced exposure and enhanced image clarity in challenging lighting environments.

These benefits make turret security cameras a popular choice for businesses, homes, and public spaces where reliable surveillance and deterrence are crucial.

5 Advantages of Turret Security Cameras for Video Surveillance

Why Access Control Security is important for Retirement Communities

Retirement communities provide a safe and secure environment for senior citizens to enjoy their golden years. One essential aspect of ensuring safety within these communities is access control.

Implementing effective access control systems in retirement communities can enhance security measures, protect residents, and provide peace of mind to both residents and their families. There are numerous benefits of access control in retirement communities including,

Enhanced Security:
Access control systems serve as the first line of defense against unauthorized individuals entering retirement communities. These systems typically include keycards, key fobs, or biometric systems that limit access to authorized personnel only. By restricting entry to residents, staff, and approved visitors, retirement communities can significantly reduce the risk of theft, vandalism, and other security incidents.
Resident Safety:
The primary goal of access control in retirement communities is to prioritize the safety of residents. Elderly individuals are often more vulnerable to potential threats, making it crucial to ensure their protection. Access control systems allow community managers to monitor and control who enters and exits the premises, minimizing the likelihood of unscrupulous individuals gaining access. This not only deters criminals but also prevents residents from encountering strangers who may have malicious intentions.
Emergency Response:
In times of emergencies, access control systems play a vital role in facilitating swift and effective response efforts. With these systems in place, community management can quickly identify who is on the premises, enabling emergency responders to focus their efforts and locate residents in need of assistance. Access control can also integrate with other safety measures, such as fire alarms or panic buttons, further streamlining emergency response protocols.
Improved Staff Efficiency:
Retirement communities often have a large number of staff members responsible for various tasks, including caregiving, maintenance, and administration. Access control systems can simplify staff management by granting different levels of access based on roles and responsibilities. This allows community managers to track staff movements, ensuring accountability and promoting efficiency. Additionally, access control eliminates the need for traditional lock and key systems, reducing the risk of lost keys or unauthorized duplication.
Visitor Management:
Access control systems provide retirement communities with the ability to manage visitor access effectively. Guests can be issued temporary passes or granted access only when accompanied by a resident or staff member. This level of control allows communities to maintain a balance between resident privacy and the need for social interaction. By tracking visitors, retirement communities can also keep accurate records, enhancing security and facilitating contact tracing if necessary.
Peace of Mind:
For residents and their families, knowing that access control systems are in place provides peace of mind. The knowledge that their loved ones are residing in a secure environment helps alleviate concerns about safety and encourages a sense of well-being. Residents can enjoy their retirement years without undue worry, while family members can rest assured that their loved ones are protected.

Access control systems offer numerous benefits to retirement communities, ranging from enhanced security and resident safety to improved staff efficiency and visitor management. By implementing robust access control measures, retirement communities can create a secure environment where residents can thrive, enjoy their independence, and experience peace of mind. These systems are a crucial component of ensuring the well-being and happiness of senior citizens within their community.

Learn more about PMT Security Solutions for Retirement Communities

Why Access Control Security is important for Retirement Communities

How OMNIA Access Control can help provide security for your Bank

OMNIA Access Control for Financial Institutions

OMNIA Access Control is a comprehensive security solution designed to regulate and manage access to various areas within a facility, including banking institutions. This system ensures that only authorized individuals are granted entry to specific locations, such as restricted areas, vaults, server rooms, and other sensitive zones.

Here are some key features and components commonly found in OMNIA Access Control systems for banking:

Access Cards/Key Fobs: OMNIA utilizes access cards or key fobs assigned to authorized personnel. These devices contain unique identifiers that grant access when presented to card readers or proximity sensors.
Card Readers/Proximity Sensors: These devices are installed near entry points and read the information on access cards or key fobs. Card readers can be mounted on walls, integrated into turnstiles, or embedded within door handles to allow or deny access based on the permissions associated with the card.
Biometric Authentication: Some OMNIA systems may incorporate biometric authentication methods like fingerprint scanners or facial recognition technology to enhance security and prevent unauthorized access.
Centralized Management Software: A centralized software application allows administrators to configure and manage access control settings, define access levels and permissions for different user groups, monitor access events, and generate reports. It provides a centralized view of the entire access control system and enables administrators to make real-time adjustments.
Alarm Integration: OMNIA Access Control systems can integrate with alarm systems, enabling immediate alerts or triggering alarms in the event of unauthorized access attempts or security breaches.
Video Surveillance Integration: Integration with video surveillance systems allows for a more comprehensive security approach. Access events can be correlated with video footage, enhancing situational awareness and facilitating investigations if required.
Audit Trails and Reporting: The system maintains detailed logs of access events, providing an audit trail for security purposes. Administrators can generate reports to review access history, identify patterns, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Mobile Access: Some OMNIA systems may offer mobile access capabilities, enabling authorized personnel to use their smartphones or wearable devices as virtual access cards for added convenience and flexibility.

When implementing an OMNIA Access Control system in a financial institution or banking environment, it is important to consider the specific security needs and compliance requirements of the institution. Additionally, regular maintenance and periodic audits of the system are crucial to ensure optimal functionality and security.

How OMNIA Access Control can help provide security for your Bank

5 Best Practices for Network and Hardware Security

This document is designed to give general information and recommendations for the enhancement of security related to CCTV and Access control installations. There is no single solution to today’s security challenges, every system is unique and requires its own risk analysis and its own solutions and strategies to address its unique needs, as such, this document should be viewed as a guide and not as a comprehensive set of solutions, no warrantees or guarantees are implied.

Operating Systems and Software

Install and use current operating systems, ensure that they are patched and up-to-date. Make sure that there are procedures in place to keep operating systems updated and/or patched.

Any operational software should be treated in the same manner, use the latest version available from your vendor and make a plan to keep the software updated, if there are associated costs with updates, then factor that into the systems overall cost of ownership.

If there are outside connections being made to the system, make sure that you understand what those connections are for, how many of them there are and if they are necessary. Do not turn off firewalls, instead leave firewalls up and set exceptions for applications within the firewalls. Interconnectivity between devices within a closed network offer a lower security risk than interconnectivity between devices on a LAN and a source that is external to the LAN, never defeat firewalls at this level, consult a network security expert if you need help connecting an external(internet) system to a LAN and always consult with site IT before making changes.

Install anti-virus software on PC’s and servers, choose a reputable product that can detect spyware, ransomware and malware and has the ability to send alerts.

Dedicate PC hardware, if the PC is to be used as a video recorder, then use it only as a recorder, do not add superfluous software or tools, do not allow an employee to use the Server/PC as a mail reading tool or internet surfing tool, disable RDP connections or support software that allow remote access, isolate your equipment from the outside world as much as possible. Some IT departments completely disable internet connectivity to dedicated access control/Video servers, giving them the peace of mind that a security breach is unlikely to originate there. If you absolutely need an outside connection to the system such as in the case for remote viewing of video, use a VPN and ensure that strong security protocols are implemented on the remote connection, there is absolutely no point having great security when your remote user has a login credentials of ‘1234’.

If using a web-based client, wherever possible, use a TLS certificate to insure enable HTTPS browser connections, this encrypts the traffic between your client browsers and server/website.

Set up IP whitelisting for systems that require external connections, this will help to narrow the field of exposure to your internal LAN.

2. Separation of Infrastructure

Create dedicate networks for equipment, place cameras, access control panels and other necessary devices on their own internal network that communicates only with the server/PC that

controls/monitors that equipment, this will further decrease the possibility that a breach at a hardware level will result in an overall network breach.

Not only does this make sense from a security standpoint, but also from a bandwidth point of view; 500 5MP cameras connected to the client network are going to have a substantial impact on the the efficiency of that network.

3. Credential Management

Use strong passwords for operating system logins and for application/device logins, do not repeat passwords across sites, change vendor generated default logins immediately.

If possible, set up a password policy, forcing users to regularly change login passwords, always using strong, complex strings. It is recommended that a password contain a combination upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, passwords should have no fewer than 8 characters.

Minimize the number of credentials assigned to operating systems, use only one or two administrator profiles and protect those accounts with strong passwords. Use deprecated accounts for system users and limit users’ abilities to make OS or security changes.

Use separate user accounts for all users to ensure separation of risk in case a single user account is compromised.

4. Recovery Plan

Set up a back-up policy that includes secure, daily off-site backup and regularly test that the policy is being implemented correctly. Off site back-ups can be encrypted for an extra level of security.

Create a comprehensive plan for disaster recovery, consider how the site is going to return to full functionality after a catastrophic event. Having a well-defined plan will minimize downtime and give clear direction during a typically chaotic time.

5. User Training and Awareness

Ensure that users understand the system they are working with, train them to minimize internet interaction on mission-critical devices. Make users aware of threats such as phishing and other social engineering attacks and help them to understand these threats and how to avoid them. Always think twice before inserting a memory stick into a mission-critical device.

Further reading available: https://www.cisa.gov/cyber-essentials

Biometric Solutions from IDEMIA enhance business security and efficiency

Enhancing Business Security and Efficiency with Biometric Solutions from IDEMIA

The world’s #1 fingerprint and facial recognition biometric hardware.

IDEMIA technology is used by more than 450 government agencies in over 100 countries, including the FBI and Interpol. IDEMIA readers manage over 3 billion fingerprints worldwide, providing the most trusted solution when it comes to biometrics.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses face increasing challenges in ensuring robust security measures while maintaining operational efficiency. Fortunately, innovative biometric solutions provided by IDEMIA can help address these concerns. IDEMIA offers clients enhanced security, streamlined processes, and improved customer experiences.

Strengthening Identity Verification:
Identity verification is a crucial aspect of many business operations, such as employee onboarding, customer registration, or access control. IDEMIA offers cutting-edge solutions like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, that provide highly accurate and secure methods of authenticating individuals. By leveraging these technologies, your business can mitigate the risks associated with identity fraud, unauthorized access, and impersonation.
Streamlining Access Control:
Traditional access control methods like passwords or access cards are susceptible to security breaches and can be easily shared or stolen. IDEMIA’s biometric access control systems replace these outdated methods with advanced biometric authentication, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access restricted areas or sensitive data. This not only enhances security but also eliminates the need for individuals to remember or carry multiple access credentials, improving convenience and operational efficiency.
Enhancing Time and Attendance Management:
Tracking employee attendance and managing time-related processes can be a significant administrative burden for businesses. IDEMIA’s biometric time and attendance solutions offer accurate and automated tracking by utilizing features such as fingerprint or facial recognition. These systems not only eliminate time theft or buddy punching but also simplify payroll calculations and generate accurate reports, saving valuable time and reducing errors.
Improving Customer Experience:
In sectors such as banking, healthcare, or travel, IDEMIA’s biometric solutions can significantly enhance customer experiences. By implementing technologies like facial recognition, businesses can streamline customer identification processes, reduce paperwork, and provide seamless interactions across various touchpoints. This frictionless experience not only enhances customer satisfaction but also builds trust and loyalty towards your brand.
Enhancing Data Security:
In an era of increasing data breaches and cyber threats, protecting sensitive information is paramount. IDEMIA offers robust solutions for securing digital identities and safeguarding confidential data. Biometric authentication methods provide an additional layer of security beyond traditional passwords, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and identity theft. By leveraging IDEMIA’s biometric products, your business can reinforce data protection measures and comply with regulatory requirements.

IDEMIA’s biometric solutions empower businesses to strengthen security, streamline processes, and enhance customer experiences. By adopting biometric authentication methods, your business can mitigate security risks, improve operational efficiency, and build trust with customers. Embracing IDEMIA’s biometric products positions your business at the forefront of technology, ensuring a competitive edge in today’s dynamic marketplace. Invest in the power of biometrics and unlock a new era of security and efficiency for your business.