Category: Blog
Multi-Floor Elevator Access Control Systems
Controlling access to specific floors that are served by an elevator or bank of elevators is an integral component of a multi-floor access control solution, especially in New York City.
Typical behavior of such a system restricts access to all or most floors other than the lobby by disabling the floor selection buttons inside the elevator cab. When a user presents their credential to the reader in the elevator, the buttons for the floors the user is allowed to access are enabled for a brief period.
Benefits
The benefits of integrating an access control system with building elevators can be significant when paired with good security practices and an access control system such as turnstiles in the lobby. Transient and solicitor traffic in NYC can be nearly eliminated and overall security is increased, with the only real problem left to eliminate being tailgating awareness.
Scheduling
Access to a particular floor or group of floors can be open during specified periods without the need to present a badge if this operation is so desired. This can be used when the reception area is not located in the common lobby and visitors need to see the receptionist before being granted access to another floor.
Additional Security Enhancements
In addition to card readers inside the elevator cab, several other enhancements can be made to an access control system to enhance overall security where elevators and elevator lobbies exist.
High volume optical or barrier turnstiles that require credentials to get into the main elevator lobby can eliminate unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the elevators and other secure areas.
Remaining Security Concerns and Vulnerabilities
Installing an access control or card system in the elevators of a multi-tenant or multi-use building provides added security and control over the movement of people in the building. There, however, are a few social personnel behaviors that require training to identify and curtail to maximize the benefits of such a system. These issues center on basic etiquette that most people have come to follow when on an elevator, but are contradictory to overall security.
The most common behavior that will need to be modified will be the offer to push a floor select button for another elevator passenger who is not in front of the panel themselves. Tenants of the building should be made aware that there is a possibility that they could be taken advantage of to circumvent the security in a situation like this and that any person wishing to get to a particular floor should present their badge and make their own selection.
If a turnstile system isn’t present in the lobby, there is the potential for individuals to simply step on the elevator and ride it until someone requests the floor they want to access, either from inside the cab or from another individual pushing the call button from the floor itself.
In a busy building, this could happen fairly quickly, and the behavior goes unnoticed. Mitigating this possibility can be achieved with the addition of secure lobbies on each floor, where credentials are required to gain access to any area outside of the elevator lobby. Additionally, security guards monitoring video cameras inside the cab would be able to notice a loitering individual and act appropriately.
Digital Provisions specializes in upgrading legacy EAC systems to the latest state of the art IP based systems. We are also your choice for installing new Electronic Access Control systems, all with little or no disruption to your business. Contact us for further information at 631-209-2600.
Importance Of Video Surveillance Systems At Car Dealership Service Bays
If you are an owner or manager in the automotive sales industry, the need to have a surveillance system has increased dramatically. There are many reasons for car dealerships to have video surveillance; it’s not just for catching thieves trying to steal parts or entire cars, or monitoring employees. One significant use of such systems is for viewing customers’ vehicles coming in and out the shop for service.
Verifying the condition of a vehicle entering the service bays has already helped many of our clients avoid false claims by customers. Customers have stated that the dealership caused the damage while servicing the vehicle, and the cameras have proven otherwise.
By placing high-resolution IP cameras in the proper locations to view and record vehicles coming and going through the shop, you can solve this problem. It’s not just a matter of putting up a camera in the shop to view everything. If designed properly by an experienced integrator, you will have cameras specifically placed to capture different sections of the shop. We have heard from dealership owners time and time again, “I’m tired of customers telling me this dent or scratch wasn’t on my car before it came into the shop!”
By investing a small amount now with the right firm to design a video surveillance system to meet your needs, you can avoid situations like this and avoid having to pay out hundreds or even thousands in repair work to a customer that came in for a $40.00 oil change.
Please contact us at 631-209-2600 for a free security consultation to review your security needs.
Stopping Door Propping Using Modern Access Control Systems
Building security is more than just burglar alarm systems and IP video surveillance systems. Modern Access Control systems offer users better control over their building’s overall security. A recurring problem that we are often asked to solve in New York City is the issue of employees propping open building doors. Smoke breaks, impromptu ventilation, deliveries, there are many reasons an employee will stick an object in the doorway to prevent the door from closing. They are probably thinking of just closing the door at the end of their shift but instead, they forget, and so the door remains open all night.
Modern Electronic Access Control systems, such as those manufactured by S2 (www.s2sys.com), have the ability to notify management that a door has been propped, allowing them to take action. Alerts can be configured only to be sent if the door is propped for a specific duration, so deliveries taking up to 10 minutes, for example, will not cause an alarm condition. Even doors that do not have a full electronic lock installation can be set up for this by simply running a wire to the door and adding the proper door sensor which can save money.
Alarm systems have the ability to tell you if a zone is faulted but often users just bypass the zone out of habit and the door remains unsecured. Getting an email from the Access Control system to one or more members of your management team is the most reliable means of making sure all your doors are properly closed.
Additionally, any door set up for door prop alarms can also be configured to send an email every time the door is opened. Further reporting can be added letting you know if the door was opened from the inside or the outside. If for example you have an exterior door that should never be used for entry, a ‘door forced’ event may be configured to alert you if someone came in from the outside.
Building lockdowns can also be initiated from your Access Control system and the system can show you a map of any doors that are not currently closed. Even your HVAC system will run more efficiently when all doors remain closed.
Save money and keep your staff properly protected by ensuring that all doors in your facility are adequately secured.
Digital Provisions specializes in upgrading legacy EAC systems to the latest state of the art IP based systems. We are also your choice for installing new Electronic Access Control systems, all with little or no disruption to your business. Contact us for further information at 631-209-2600.
Exporting Video Surveillance Footage: 4 Things To Consider When Comparing Export Features
One of the most important abilities of a video surveillance system is exporting videos. Undoubtedly if you have a surveillance system, you had exported video before or at least tried. Every system is different, and some systems are better than others. When reviewing features of competing video surveillance systems, the importance of the exporting process is often overlooked. Some things to consider when comparing export features between systems are digital signature & encryption, proprietary video player availability, password protected export, and the ability to prevent re-export. I will explain the differences between these and how you may use them.
Proprietary Video Player
I am typically not a fan of proprietary software, but there is a good reason to export video that will only play with a special player. By exporting video as an AVI or MPEG, it is essentially viewable from any computer with no special software. When a video clip has to be exported, and it does not require any privacy or protection against video tampering, then an AVI would be an acceptable method. If there is an incident where the video has privacy concerns or may be used as evidence, then using the proprietary video player becomes mandatory. A standard video file format such as AVI was never designed to include any special features such as password protection, digital signature nor encryption. Because of this, a special player has to be exported with the video to enable these important features.
Digital Signature & Encryption
Enabling digital signature and encryption forces the VMS (video management system) to do an additional task when exporting video. It will create a digital signature of the video using a hash algorithm and store the digital signature with the video. When the exported video is being used as evidence by a police officer or judge a manual verification of the video can be done to check for video tampering. To use this function, a password must also be set to the video.
Password Protected Export
Password protecting a video export is another feature that can protect the exported data. It will ensure that export video is viewed by who it is intended for. You can password protect video while not having to have digital signature & encryption enabled.
Prevent Re-export
Preventing re-export will stop someone from re-exporting the video from within your original exported video file. This may be necessary to further protect the video evidence.
The features outlined above are very powerful and can be used to allow video to hold up in court. Depending on what you may be using video surveillance for, it may be worth making sure the surveillance system you currently own or looking to purchase will support these features. It may be the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit.
Eliminating Employee Alarm Codes Through Alarm System And Electronic Access Control
Managing alarm system codes for groups of employees can be a daunting task. With each new dismissal and hire, you must remove the previous employee from the alarm system user list and add the new hire. Often this process involves software or tools that were designed in the 1990’s and are not user-friendly, sometimes even requiring an older PC be kept around just to accomplish the task (raise your hand if you have a Windows 98 computer running somewhere in your building just to keep an old system online).
Few alarm systems offer ease of use as a web-based access control system offers. Such systems, like those from manufacturer S2 (www.s2sys.com), can relieve many of the pains associated with employee administration and security.
Integration of your alarm system and access control systems can substantially eliminate the need for all but one or two key operational personnel to have codes for the alarm system. In many instances, you can completely remove the need for daily opening and closing staff ever to touch or see the alarm keypad. The system greatly simplifies the management of the physical security of the building and improves the employees experience interacting with the building security systems and procedures.
A Single Point of Management
Your electronic access control system contains employee information and is already a point from which you grant and revoke access to different areas of your facility or facilities. Granting and revoking, arming and disarming privileges of the local alarm system can be just as easy as adding or removing a user from an access group or level. Many high-end access control systems offer simple to use end user management features that rival the capabilities of a stand-alone alarm. Features such as time specification (a window of time where access can be granted or denied) and credential activation and expiration dates are not something usually available through alarm management software.
A New Interface
Modern readers such as those from HID allow for enhanced user interfacing and information at each door. These readers provide a multicolor LED lamp allowing for simple color-based security intelligence right where employees are coming from and going. An employee can look at the reader, see if its light is red, and instantly know the building’s alarm system is armed.
In a typical integrated solution, using this reader, how to disarm an integrated alarm system is as follows:
- LED red – Alarm System is ARMED and area is locked
- User presents credential to reader, which is either validated or denied
- Validated credentials result in LED turning blue; signifying alarm has disarmed
- The user presents credential again to gain entry, LED turns green signifying access granted, and the door is unlocked. Once an entry has been completed the LED turns to blue again.
Arming an integrated alarm system involves invoking a procedure known as “double-present.” It is where the user presents the credential to the reader, removes it from the reader and presents it again within 5 seconds. Validated users doing this will result in the LED turning red, signifying the alarm has been armed. Alternatively, a specialized reader may be installed which is only used to arm the alarm system.
Risk of Lost Credential
There is a valid security concern that can be attributed to the integration of an electronic access control and burglar alarm system which uses physical card or key fob type credentials only. This threat can be mitigated by implementing certain HR practices, using specialized hardware, or by combining both. HID Prox cards or HID I-Class type tokens or key fobs can be stolen and then used to gain entry to a building before the user has notified HR. Policies should be put in place that instructs employees not to have anything that identifies the company or building address on the keyring or stored with the card credential.
If the idea of a lost key fob or badge concerns you, enhanced security can be achieved by requiring a PIN code along with a credential presentation to disarm the alarm system. This PIN is still managed in the access control software. Therefore, the benefit of a single point of management for building security is still realized. The PIN will only need to be entered when the system is armed so it will not affect normal access to the door once the system has been disarmed.
Additionally, automatically generated reports may be scheduled to show you arming and disarming activity in the system meaning you no longer need to rely on your central station to provide these to you.
Digital Provisions specializes in upgrading legacy Electronic Access Control systems to the latest state of the art IP based systems, all with little or no disruption to your business. Contact us for further information, or if you have a Windows 98 machine begging to be put to rest.
How Video Verified Alarm Systems Can Protect Your Commercial Property Investment
It’s 3 a.m., everyone in the house is asleep, out of the blue your phone starts ringing and wakes you up from your sound slumber. It’s Central Station, and there has been an alarm trip at your building. Is there something wrong? Is someone trying to break in? Or is it just false alarm?
Waking up in the middle of the night, receiving a call from central station, calling to inform you that your burglar alarm is going off, and the Police have been dispatched, is probably the worst way to wake up and certainly something you want to avoid.
A Better Way
What if Central Station knew the answers to those important questions before the police were even called? Using a properly designed IP Video Surveillance system, Central Station operators are now able to use your CCTV cameras to verify visually if there is an actual event at your facility. Some counties have now issued a 2-false-alarm-a-year-rule, which means if police authorities are dispatched to your property more than 2 times a year for a false alarm, you’re going to receive a bill for their troubles. By using video to verify whether an alarm is true or false is a very powerful tool as a business owner to ensure that you are not charged with unnecessary fines.
Additional Uses
Business owners often find this type of system useful to protect exterior parking lots where vehicles and equipment are being stored. Before central station contacts you, they will use your CCTV or IP video surveillance system to visually verify if there is an actual event at your facility. Before the use of video verification, there were few options for protecting the perimeter at an outdoor storage or parking area. Security guards were costly and many times ineffective. Now you can use cameras in combination with outdoor detection sensors and analytics to protect every area in your lot simultaneously. No more situations where a guard was sleeping across the other end of the lot while thieves make off with your valuables.
Ways to Reduce False Alarms
- Inspect the area you’re protecting to make sure nothing is moving during the night that would trip the alarm, such as balloons or even plants when HVAC system turns on.
- Schedule monthly checkups & inspections with your current burglar alarm system integrator.
- Do an intrusion test after hours to see if the system does what it is designed to do.
- Integrate video surveillance cameras with your alarm system to prevent the police from coming when they don’t need to.
- Training for all users of the system to ensure it is being armed properly. Alternatively, set the system to auto arm & disarm or tie the system into your access control system for even better control.
It pays to be proactive when protecting your investments. Digital Provisions has been installing video verified intrusion systems since 2011 and knows what it takes to get it done right. Contact us to find out how this proven new technology can help you sleep better at night.
Automatic Building Access Control Systems And How They Work
Often it’s the weather, perhaps a blizzard has dumped an unprecedented amount of snow in your area, or maybe it’s Tropical Storm Reno that just plowed through your local community. Whatever the situation is, along with the local roads, your building is now officially closed until further notice.
Many facilities rely on their Electronic Access Control system to unlock certain doors on a predetermined schedule throughout the workday. It helps employees gain access when needed and helps facilitate movement throughout the building as regular business necessitates. Some examples: The morning shift arrives to begin manufacturing operations for the day, and they are able to enter through the designated employee entrance which has automatically unlocked 15 minutes before their arrival. At the end of the day, the employees leave for home, and the designated door automatically relocks for the night, so your facility remains secure.
But what happens when that blizzard hits at 3 A.M. on a Tuesday? Your employees aren’t coming to work at 8 A.M. like usual, in fact, no one is going anywhere. But your existing Access Control system doesn’t know it snowed, so it opens the doors at 7:45 A.M. and your building is now empty with the exterior doors unlocked.
Modern Electronic Access Control systems, such as those manufactured by S2 (www.s2sys.com), have a simple and effective feature to prevent this very problem. The feature, called ‘First In Unlock,’ dictates that a verified credential must first be presented to the system before the scheduled automatic unlock will happen. Building facility managers, or others who are usually the first to arrive at the building, will be entered into a particular group which signals the system that the building is open for business. If someone from that group has not presented a valid key fob or access badge to any door reader first, then the automatic unlock event will never happen. This functionality can be tied to any access controlled door, or even gates which are set on a schedule.
The ability to leverage this powerful functionality goes even further. For instance, you can have a facility manager group which unlocks the doors to the warehouse floor, and an admins group that signals the system that the doors to the office areas in the building can now auto open. In this way, the back of the building can start operations at 6 A.M., while the front vestibule doesn’t auto unlock until 9 P.M. The same example applies to businesses with multiple facilities, allowing individual buildings to auto open only after certain criteria is met at that location. And what happens if a building needs to close early? No problem at all, just have a user from the designated ‘relock’ group flash his badge at each door currently open on a schedule and the door will relock again for the day.
Unexpected building closings are stressful enough, don’t let your Electronic Access Control system force you to come into work just to lock doors that should never have unlocked in the first place.
Digital Provisions specializes in upgrading legacy Electronic Access Control systems to the latest state of the art IP based systems, all with little or no disruption to your business. Contact us for further information, or if you have any questions at all on ‘First In Unlock’ functionality.
Digital Provisions serves clients from new state of the art facility
Digital Provisions recently moved their corporate office to the heart of the Ronkonkoma / Bohemia business district. The new 3000 square foot facility features state of the art security systems, fully installed, for clients to see in action before they purchase for their own facility. High Definition Megapixel, Panoramic 360, Thermal and Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras are all viewable from the new command center demo area. Access Control, Intrusion, Wifi and other systems are also installed and on display for a true hands on experience. All systems are tied together to show clients the power that a true professional integration can bring to the table.
Clients no longer have to depend on cut sheets and promotional material to see the systems they want to buy. The new demo room allows them to fully interact with the systems they want for their own facility so they know what they are getting before they issue the PO.
Site visits are available by request, please contact the team at Digital Provisions to arrange for an appointment.
Caught on Camera
Cameras help ID burglary suspect in Selden
A prominent oral surgeon’s office in Suffolk County was recently burglarized during the middle of the night. The perpetrator entered through a front door, breaking the lock and causing considerable damage. While inside the practice he broke open locked drawers, wreaked havoc in the office area and did everything possible to find drugs and other valuables. The burglar finally left the practice by breaking a rear window and crawling out.
Police were called and detectives arrived on the scene to investigate. They retrieved video from the video surveillance system recently installed by Digital Provisions. Proper camera placement resulted in a relatively clear picture of the suspect. Three days later the individual attempted to break into another building but was apprehended mid break in. Detectives were able to ID him using the video footage and tie him to the original break in. The doctor and staff were relived the infiltrator was caught and identified and are confident that he will be brought to justice.
To find out how a professionally designed and installed security camera system can help protect you and what’s important in your life, contact a security expert from Digital Provisions by calling 631-209-2600.
Register turns up short
East End Veterinary Emergency & Veterinary Center catches costly register error
Veterinary hospitals are a critical resource for pet owners who have an emergency and need care for their animals. Their well trained staff and medical personnel often mean the difference between life and death for our furry friends. Recently at one such hospital the register came up short 250 dollars at the end of the day’s operations. Luckily, the hospital recently hired the team at Digital Provisions to install a state of the art IP based Megapixel surveillance system.
“When we went back to review the video footage of the days transactions we could clearly see the entire transaction take place” says Dr. Vatash. “It was clear that it was an honest mistake.” Using the new digital surveillance system, management was able to quickly review the day’s footage and review the transaction in question. “The system performed flawlessly and provided us with the level of detail necessary to pick up the finest of details. We were able to count the bills as they changed hands and determine exactly where the mistake occurred” comments Dr. Vatash. “This was critical in removing suspicion from any of our employees, ensuring our trust remains well placed and our office morale stays high.”
The customer was called and made payment on their account. The cashier was greatly relieved and as always the staff will continue providing quality veterinary care for residents on the east end.