Diebold Discusses Hot Technologies and Project Management
SSI’s annual Best of the Best issue (July 2013) includes installation projects involving four of the industry most skilled installing security contracting companies. Additional content from my interviews with executives and managers from Diebold, which captured the Integrated Installation of the Year Award, is offered below. It includes a look at the firm’s hottest system areas as well as market specialization, and more specifics about the winning project. Be on the lookout for more online extras from both the Installer of the Year and Integrated Installation of the Year winners and finalists.
What are some of your hottest systems right now?
Tony Byerly, Diebold Electronic Security Executive Vice President: Advanced IP camera technology is one area of the security market that is really growing today. While IP cameras have been on the market for a decade or longer, their adoption rate has increased significantly during the past 18 to 24 months. This recent growth can be attributed to a combination of more economical options, increased camera functionality and shrinking bandwidth requirements. We’re also finding that as legacy systems reach their end of life, organizations are readily migrating to IP cameras. We’re also seeing increased interest in managed access control solutions, particularly for retail establishments, financial institutions and high-end commercial enterprises. As a result, outsourced managed access control is emerging as a preferred option for organizations focused on streamlining access oversight, enhancing security and reducing operational costs. In addition, we’re seeing a growing need for solutions that deliver a more cohesive environment for security management while enhancing the end-user experience. End users want systems that allow them to easily track, review and administer security operations in real-time across an enterprise. This is a demand that Diebold has answered with its new SecureStat solution. This online security management tool unifies security services and disparate systems and provides a single, Web-based interface. Through SecureStat, users can gain security control, tools and information to improve security operations, ensure business compliance and reduce business risk.
Did Diebold have experience working with projects similar to the award-winning St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort project? What are the challenges in providing products and services to this type of project or market?
Kevin Engelhardt, Diebold Electronic Security Vice President and General Manager, Operations: Large-scale security integration projects are one of Diebold’s core competencies, and we have performed countless integrations for a wide variety of commercial properties. A significant portion of our business is focused on providing services in complex security environments, including extremely large sites like St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. For example, our systems integration work at the World Trade Center site in New York City demonstrates our abilities to perform in the most complex, highly sensitive environments. At the site, we’re managing the installation, integration and maintenance of a fully customized, comprehensive situational awareness platform software system that will collect, correlate and display information from the WTC site’s critical security systems and provide identity management capabilities. We’re installing video surveillance, access control and alarm devices throughout the WTC transportation hub. And we’re building a centralized security command and control center at the 4 WTC skyscraper and integrating numerous security-related components into the center.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort security integration involved a variety of challenges associated with working in a long-term, multifaceted construction environment. The duration of the project presented one of the most interesting challenges to overcome – addressing overlapping technology lifecycles. With a security implementation of this magnitude, we wanted to be sure we were delivering the best-of-breed technology to the final project. However, technology is continually evolving, and more advanced technology was released after drawing up the initial specifications. By staying abreast of cutting-edge technology and how it can be leveraged, integrated and serviced in a professional and functional manner, we were able to design and implement a fully integrated destination control system that incorporates the guest reservation system, in-house key card access control system and elevator system all through a single credential. Tracking such technological advancements and understanding how to integrate multiple, complex systems requires a depth of knowledge and experience that only a large, national security provider like Diebold can offer. That’s one of our biggest differentiators. Our staff is highly trained not only in core security functionalities but also IT functionalities so they can make a wide variety of systems work together in a holistic manner. It’s not just about installing security products; it’s also about integrating those products with software systems and working within the IT environment to ensure success.
What were the most difficult aspects of the installation? How were these challenges overcome?
Engelhardt: The duration of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort construction project from design to build presented a unique challenge, as the property’s design and functionality evolved following the bid process. These shifts required careful considerations to address changing security needs and budget requirements. At the same time, new technology that could streamline the resort’s security operations was introduced to the market. But these were good problems to have. Leveraging our technology partners, we reviewed emerging security solutions and identified a way to integrate the site’s guest reservation, in-house key card access control and elevator destination control systems into one holistic solution that is managed via a single credential. Because we worked very closely with the property owner and our technology partners, we were able to shift priorities together and deliver an optimal solution for the resort. At the conclusion of the project, the resort had the latest and greatest technology to enhance safety for residents and guests.
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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