Security should never be a gamble, are integrated security solutions the easy answer?

Security should never be a gamble, are integrated security solutions the easy answer?

13 June 2022

In September 2021, the police recorded 5.8 million crimes in England and Wales - an increase of 2% from the year before. 1% of this increase consisted solely of fraud and computer misuse offences, evidencing that criminals are gradually becoming more familiar with the modern technology at their disposal - and, namely, how to abuse it.

 

According to Proofpoint, phishing texts and emails rose by 700% in the first six months of 2021 compared to the latter half of 2020. Banks and delivery companies have issued warnings to their customers, encouraging them to stay vigilant against the realistic replication of official communications like text and email messages.   

 

But this sharp rise in mobile and surveillance crime isn’t limited to our devices. Lockdown is over, and many of us have begun reintegrating into public social settings: bars, pubs and clubs are now thriving again.  

 

Casinos are one such place - hubs of financial exchange, where money flows freely and openly. As such, these companies have a unique set of security demands - especially those based in bustling cities like London or Manchester, where crime rates are often higher than in other parts of the country. 

 

They have a particular requirement to meet the vastly growing threat landscape, in which cybercriminals are more prolific and forward-thinking than ever before.

 

Their chosen security systems must pick up the most subtle movements; sleight of hand, the swift exchange of chips and cards, and the subtle actions of suspicious individuals. What’s more, they need to comply with the legal requirements of the Gambling Commission and their local authorities. 

 

If casinos want to continue flourishing post-lockdown, their customers must feel at ease - that they can make transactions in a secure and consistently monitored environment, well away from the prying eyes of fraudsters. 

 

Concise, all-seeing, and fully integrated security systems are one way to guarantee this feeling of ease and customer satisfaction. 

 

Security often occupies our minds – we know it is a requirement, although it can be complex and costly to install. This inconvenience becomes especially true when discussing comprehensive systems that high-risk companies like casinos desperately need. 

 

Many companies often find that their video management software (VMS) does not support hardware or that software delays make it impossible to access the full functionality of the devices. The result? Inconveniences and higher costs for the end user. 

  

Thankfully, Axis Communications - the industry leader in sophisticated video surveillance - has created a flexible, efficient, simple, and cost-effective solution that perfectly meets the needs of those looking to overhaul and modernise their systems. 

 

Axis’s ‘The Power of One’ addresses the complexities associated with installation and integration. Gone are the days of using multiple vendors for one system - now, you can get everything you need in one place. 

 

The system uses one user interface, one licence per device, one point of contact, and one design tool. This setup means full system compatibility, a far more straightforward arrangement - and, most importantly, peace of mind for your client. 

 

One company that has successfully adapted to the rapidly increasing risk landscape is The A&S Leisure Group Ltd. They own Napoleon's Casinos and Restaurants, a five-strong chain of venues in the North of England. 

 

When opening a new venue in the heart of Manchester, a city with one of the highest crime rates in the UK, A&S decided it was time to upgrade its security systems. They sought a solution that provided complete surveillance of the building perimeter, multiple access points, and a virtual ‘eye in the sky’ to patrol the entire gambling floor.

 

Axis’s end-to-end, integrated, easily scalable Camera Station was an ideal fit. It equipped A&S with:

  • A staff door station including a biometric metre to assess all staff entering the building 
  • Complete, integrated control by an access management system 
  • Network Cameras with two-way audio functionality to monitor money exchange areas, bars, slot machines and gaming tables
  • Over one hundred high-quality cameras running over four viewing stations to closely monitor all areas of the gambling floor at once
  • Small dome cameras to monitor back-of-house areas

 

The camera video and audio quality are so clear that they can pick up even the most minute of details - and all the footage is available for instant retrieval and playback if the authorities require it. 

  

The system has proven an incredible success in A&S’s new Manchester location and they will now adopt it across four other sites: 

 

“When looking at the requirements of the new site, integration between the surveillance and access control systems was an important requirement, together with high-quality images from the cameras and immediate video playback with audio.” - Guy Hewson, Head of Security at The A & S Leisure Group Ltd

 

Are you a reseller looking for an integrated, end-to-end security solution for your clients? Contact us via phone at 0371 973 3000 or through our website: uk.ingrammicro.eu/contact.