ESL Credit Union of Rochester, N.Y. has installed an enterprise-class networked solution at its six-story office at its new corporate headquarters.
By Ashley Willis
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ESL Credit Union has significantly improved its video surveillance capability at its corporate headquarters here with an enterprise-class networked solution. NAVCO, a national systems integrator, handled the project. The new solution protects ESL's six-story office building, as well as a four-story parking garage and a pedestrian walk-bridge.
Provided by March Networks, the solution includes the VideoSphere video management system (VMS) software, 4000 C Series hybrid recorders and MegaPX 720p and pan/tilt/zoom (p/t/z) IP cameras. The solution is also integrated with the credit union's Guardall access control system to streamline security monitoring.
"The physical security team was given the opportunity to help design and implement the total security protection plan," ESL Physical Security Manager Bob Lukasiewicz tells SSI. "We saw this as a chance to move into a digital video platform. We wanted video products that gave us high-resolution and the capability of zooming in on events or vehicles or situations that we needed to take a closer look at."
After reviewing the facility's blueprints and determining where security components would need to be deployed, ESL the team sought an integrator to make the solution become a reality.
"When I see a bid presentation, I'm more interested to know that the presenters actually understand how the product being installed is to be used," Lukasiewicz says. "They need to explain how they intend to do the work that we want done and how the product will be useful to us. I understand video applications, so it's more than just putting a camera on the wall."
ESL chose NAVCO to install the new system because it had successfully deployed March Networks' solutions at ESL's banking branches and standalone ATMs, NAVCO Vice President and Regional Sales Manager Andy Stefens tells SSI.
ESL Credit Unions security control room operators trained for two weeks with NAVCO and March Networks representatives to learn the system.
It took NAVCO's eight-man team roughly eight months to complete the installation, which experienced setbacks due to construction and weather delays. "We had a few design changes during the installation in terms of camera mounts or lens type," says Stefens. "Other than that, there were no major issues with the install."
ESL designed a security communications center at a central location to monitor the premises. Staffed with multiple employees 24/7, the security team underwent training with NAVCO and March Networks representatives to learn the fine points of the system.
"We took two weeks to train our control room operators before we actually put them in front of the terminals," says Lukasiewicz. "With such a large number of cameras, our guys had to know how to maneuver through the video products we have onboard."
ESL's physical security team is now considering installing March Network's intelligent video analytics and financial transaction investigation software for fraud detection. Steve Langford, March Networks' director of solutions marketing, tells SSI ATM fraud is far too common for banks worldwide.
"Most banks are more susceptible to losses through crimes committed at their ATMs," he says. "Organized criminals are very adept at capturing card details from an innocent customer's magnetic stripe using an ATM card skimmer. According to the U.S. Secret Service, that costs banks well over $1 billion annually."
Ashley Willis is associate editor for SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. She can be reached at (310) 533-2419.