Trade FIDES, a. s. | Security of Banks and Financial Institutions
Security of Banks and Financial Institutions
At present, every financial institution usually has its own methodology of their object security system prepared, administered and controlled by a separate department. Nevertheless, it is an issue that is similar and comprehensible in all institutes.
The essence is to maintain maximum security of a particular bank's operation with particular attention to cash security against outside as well as inside thefts, clients' data protection and elimination of danger of breaching the client accounts. This is a security system designed against a breach committed by a person physically present in the building. It is not a protection system designed against information network attacks.
Mechanical Barriers
They are usually designed within an object construction or renovation. They always represent a sort of compromise between their robustness and complexity, and area aesthetics and visual impact on the clients. It is common practice to separate the client area from the back areas, and IT department that is mechanically resistant from the department where cash and safe-deposit boxes are held.
Without any difficulties, it is possible to use security doors here with quality and resistant framing, door furniture and locks, reinforced constructions or additional anti-theft bars.
The situation of the client area and outside walls of the building is much more complex because the selected protection devices must be hidden. Such a device usually represents a combination of lock-resistant systems and, for example, safety foil. The design of the mechanical barriers is always influenced by an architect's imagination, to a particular extent.
Mechanical blocking devices in combination with ACS or SAS form a security pass in the banks allowing regimented movement of persons only.
Security Alarm Systems (SAS)
SAS is a basic security system detecting any physical trespass into an object and calling an emergency squad.
The Czech technical norms "ČSN EN 50 131" represent the essential technical and designing documentation of SAS. Designed components must usually be certified at the security level 3 due to the specificity of the objects of financial institutions.
SAS, usually implemented in the financial institutes, can be divided into the following sub-groups according to their designation:
- wall protection system
- area protection system
- object protection system
- personal distress call box
SAS switching centers
SAS switching centers form the core of security. The switching centers process information coming from the detectors and system elements and, communicate with the transmission systems and by means of them, with the centralized protection panels.
As a rule, bus systems are designed for the needs of financial institutions having demanding requirements on the sub-groups, password levels, compatibility between SAS elements and other systems. Detectors are connected with the concentrators placed around the object. The concentrators communicate with the switching centre by means of a data line. Thus, the cable routes in the object are reduced and simultaneously, the system module can be extended with additional concentrators. At the same time, there is a backup power source for the concentrators and detectors installed in the switching center. In the case of large applications, it is necessary to divide the power supply into more feed lines and thus, more separate backup power sources.
Transmission Systems and Centralized Protection Panels (CPP)
Centralized protection panels are the final parts of the security systems. They provide the transmission of alarm signals from the bank to the center of the security agency or the Police of the Czech Republic. The subsequent physical intervention is conducted on the basis of such transmitted information.
In the object there is so called, an object part of the transmission device sending information from the switching centre to the centralized protection panel. Financial institutes are connected with CPP without any exception. Directly in the plans of the particular object, the CPP operator can observe detectors in their alarm state, the time sequence of events and, coordinate the activity of an emergency squad.
Security Camera Systems (CCTV)
The security camera system forms an essential part of the security systems installed in the financial institutions today. They enhance the security of banks and their clients.
A camera system consists of security cameras, recording devices, monitors and additional elements.
The security cameras are the core of the system. Particular attention is paid to the monitoring of cash points and workstations, access to the safe-deposit boxes and technical rooms and money drop location routes. Security cameras of high definition, speed and setting enabling identification of individuals are installed here. The security cameras are usually equipped with an extra entrance and exit camera.
Other security cameras give an overview picture of the situation on the pathways, in the bank halls and hallways. The system is complemented as required, for example, with an outdoor security camera at the entrance to the money drop boxes.
Designs of the security cameras differ according to their purpose and location. From standard indoor cameras mounted on a stand, cameras installed behind the wall plaster up to outdoor security cameras in classical tempered or half-dome casing.
Large cash counting rooms and workstations where money is prepared, are specific places monitored by a separate complex security system, consisting of "mega-pixel" security cameras, separate recording device and high quality monitoring.
According to the safety application in the financial institutes, the security camera systems are designed in a way to transmit analogue video signals, digitally process and store the shots taken. The power supply backup is set for tens of minutes.
Here, the recording time is usually pre-set for a month or more. Structure of the recording devices corresponds with the recording time. It is common practice to connect SAS and CCTV and according to the nature of the alarm detected by the SAS, precisely defined security cameras of high quality monitoring, start recording.
The CCTV systems are designed in compliance with the Czech technical norms "ČSN EN 50 132".
Access Control Systems (ACS)
The access control system completes the previous three major security systems. On the basis of its design, most of all this system is related to the mechanical blocking devices. Actually, it is a system enabling to control the access of particular groups of individuals into designated areas at given times. The same effect could have been achieved by a bunch of keys assigned to every employee according to the doors where they would be authorized to enter. However, this impracticality and problems of losing the keys resulted in the design of electronic access control systems.
The system is selective and is usually installed only in some objects of financial institutes. The system is usually implemented in bigger affiliates and usually separates the public area from the back areas, general back areas from the mode-set areas with restricted access even for the employees.
Smaller objects can be installed with "off line" card readers that store all data in their memories. They exchange the data with the controlling computer only sometimes or on manual command. Large applications are installed with "on line" card readers that continuously communicate with the controlling computer and in the case of emergency or failure they turn themselves on the autonomous mode using their own data backup.
The feed is distributed from its own power supply equipped with a backup accumulator that runs the system in the case of power failure.
The doors are not controlled by a key but by scanning of a card. The card reader processes the card access authority and activates (or not) the electric door lock. In the case of loss or change of the authorization rights, a change is made in the controlling computer database and subsequently, all card readers receive information about the change.
A different procedure is exercised when accessing the self-service bank zones (closed vestibule with night safe-deposit boxes). After working hours, a client can open the entrance door (only if there is no other client inside) after scanning his card through the outdoor magnetic card reader of a particular financial institute. The client leaves the self-service zone after pressing the exit button or the door motion opener.
ACS systems are designed in compliance with the Czech technical norms "ČSN EN 50 133".
Fire Alarm Systems (FAS)
Financial institutions usually represent standard administrative premises. Clients' money and data are kept there particularly. As opposed to the previous technologies designed to prevent cash theft or data misuse, with the fire alarm system hypothetically speaking, both cash and data can be destroyed because both can be easily replaced (money can be printed, data can be restored from the backup source).
FAS installation is defined by the protection of individuals and based on fire building regulations. If the protection of individuals is provided by constructional means, no FAS is required. In the majority of financial institution objects, there are no FAS installed at present.
However, in a number of objects, the FAS must be installed. Rules for the installation in financial institutes have no specifics that could not be met in other objects.
Generally, it is a standard system equipped with fire detectors installed on the ceiling. The system can be complemented with special warning devices installed in the ventilation system or, for example, in the lofty bank halls.
The most frequently used detectors are optical smoke sensors detecting smoke particulates; resistant temperature detectors and temperature difference detectors responding to a particular temperature or temperature gradient, and combined detectors (optical smoke + temperature - analogy of dual sensors in SAS).
In special cases, it is suitable to also use suction systems. Hoses and pipes in the system suck out air from the monitored areas and analyze it in the register unit. No visible sensors are required in the secured rooms.
A set of automatic sensors is complemented with a glass-breaking push-button switch in order to manually raise a fire alarm. All the system sensors are connected with the FAS switching centre.
On the market there are a number of certified FAS systems of a different technical and price level. Any of them can be used in the financial institution objects.
The FAS system is connected with evacuation loud-speakers if there are any installed in the object. During the fire alarm, an automatic evacuation message system is activated. Otherwise, the FAS system is usually designed along with fire alarm sirens. Except for the warning devices, FAS outputs enable control of a number of additional fire safety system devices - that must be arranged by the technical administration of the Fire safety system object. Installation and equipment of FAS must be designed in compliance with the Czech technical norms "ČSN EN 54".
Security Systems of ATMs
External automated teller machines (ATM) usually located outside their own objects represent a vulnerable element of financial institutions. Their protection is necessary.
A combination of SAS and CCTV is quite common. The SAS protects the ATM itself. CCTV documents individuals at the ATM and thus, provides necessary documentation for resolving potential disputable operations.
Autonomous systems are installed as a component part of the ATM. Connection to the centralized protection panel is a component part of the SAS system.
