Pub. 8 2020 Issue 1

ISSUE 1. 2020 15 BANK ALARMS A security system is the founda- tion of banking. Without it, no customer in the world would feel comfortable leaving their assets in the bank’s care. What are the components of a modern security system? Some components are the same as they have always been: a bank vault and armed security guards. Others are more recent, such as the use of panic buttons, alarms, and continual high-end video surveillance. Analytics and access control systems are other additions. Typi- cal products include the following: • Alarm and audio systems • Deal drawers • Digital recording • Night depositories • Receiving safes and chests • Remote teller systems • Safe deposit boxes • Ultra-thin Cast Strip (UCS) steel • Vault doors • Vision windows Monitored video surveillance is important for a couple of reasons. The comprehen- sive coverage it provides can deter people from even trying to rob the bank, but it also provides a record of everything that happens inside the bank. To improve its role as a deterrent, it’s important that some of the cameras be obvious and other cameras should be hidden. The cameras that are easy to identify are a reminder that someone is watching; place them high enough that they will be difficult to disable. The cameras should show all doors, exits (front and back), hallways, the main lobby, teller windows, and vaults. Not all banks can afford to monitor the banks cameras themselves, but the ones that can’t dedicate in-house security and personnel to the task can hire the work out to an external company. The monitoring company can watch the video feeds and send help promptly when needed. Even if a bank has an internal department to moni- tor video, however, there should still be an external monitoring service to help. Picture detail matters. The bank’s CCTV system should consist of 4k security cameras in order to capture the best possible pictures. Banks with older equipment should spend the money to get equipment upgraded because a poor image is almost useless. Video analytics and software are also useful. As Malcolm Gladwell points out in his recent book, Talking to Strangers, most people (including security officers) are not good at figuring out there is a problem until it has become very obvious. As he puts it, they default to the idea that most people can be trusted, and it’s a good thing they do. It’s much more dam- aging to mistrust everyone, and be wrong most of the time, than to trust most people. Software can be a useful tool to help personnel identify the real threats more quickly and accurately than would be possible otherwise. How long should video records be stored? Most keep the footage at least 90 days, but some keep the footage for 180 days or longer. After that, footage is often archived on an external storage server. The amount of storage needed depends on several different factors: • Camera resolution; the better the reso- lution, the bigger the storage needs. • The number of cameras being used. • The system’s bit rate and frame rate. If a bank needs to store several hundred terabytes, it may need a server-based sys- tem. Even if a bank doesn’t need as much storage as that, it will still probably need a few dozen terabytes. Video surveillance is not the only thing banks need to have. They also need bur- glar alarms. The doors and windows both need sensors; glass should have glass- break detectors. Also, banks need smoke and fire detectors to protect against natural disasters and physical damage that could occur. What about access control systems to supplement bolts, locks, and keys? Access throughout the building should be based on need and time of day. If an employee doesn’t have a business reason for needing access to a particular part of the building, or only needs it during specific business hours, then the employee shouldn’t have that access unless necessary. Biometric credentials are a nice supplement to prox- imity swipe cards. Finally, banks can make use of bullet- proof glass in front of teller windows and even on the windows for the building. What about virtual banks? These are vulnerable to cybercriminals to an extent brick-and-mortar counterpoints are not. Although online banks use the same security measures as traditional banks, and can be insured by the FDIC to cover losses up to $250,000, that’s small com- fort if something physical is stolen, like gold coins. Traditional banks also offer personalized service while still providing many online features in addition to the physical ones. n The comprehensive coverage it provides can deter people from even trying to rob the bank, but it also provides a record of everything that happens inside the bank.