Author - sbtelecoms

13 Nov

Video Surveillance in the Workplace

Video Surveillance in the workplace: the benefits to the business and protecting employee rights

CCTV cameras are commonly used to deter criminals, protect people and provide evidence in legal debates. Video Surveillance in the workplace has even increased profitability and productivity for businesses. However, the monitoring of employees comes with the uncertainty of invading their privacy and is, therefore, a controversial topic.

Why use Video Surveillance in the workplace?

  • Ensure employees are safe
  • Prevent crimes such as theft, violence and vandalism, etc
  • Staff training – show employees the dos and don’ts
  • Ensure health and safety rules are being obeyed
  • In legal disputes, the CCTV footage can be used as evidence
  • Increase profitability and productivity

What should businesses consider when implementing Video Surveillance Systems?

Employers must meet the requirements on the use of data, and the rights of privacy under the Human Rights Act.

  • ICO must be notified if you want to use CCTV in the workplace. The data can only be used for one reason and cannot be collected for another reason. For example, if a system was set up to monitor crime, you can’t use it to monitor the amount of work done by staff.
  • Carry out an impact assessment to outline the aim of Video Surveillance and the negative impacts it could have.
  • Create a written policy – ensures that staff knows where the cameras are and provide reasons as to why the cameras are placed there.
  • Staff must be informed that they will be recorded, and the locations of cameras must be distinguished.
  • Areas of high privacy must be respected, and CCTV must not be used in these areas if it invades privacy to comply with the Human Rights Act.
  • Plan how long the data will be stored, where it will be stored and who has access to it, make sure this follows the DPA.
  • Staff can make subject access requests to see recordings of themselves, the data must be provided within 40 days of receiving the request.
  • Make sure there is a written policy covering Video Surveillance usage in the work environment.
  • Mutual trust and confidence – employers must not act in a way that damages the relationship of mutual trust and confidence between themselves and employees.

The process of installing Video Surveillance in business is complex. However, if employers take into consideration the suggestions outlined above then the process should be smooth and result in a highly beneficial procurement.

The Vista team is readily available to help you with your Video Surveillance queries regarding rules and regulations. Please contact us if you would like our support or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to keep up to date with Vista’s newest developments.

Culled from Nobain Blog

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OFFICE SECURITY
06 Nov

OFFICE SECURITY: Major importance of Access Control in your office

A critical element in securing your office is controlling access to your business space. While cyber security tends to be front of mind for many businesses, controlling who enters your office and when is your first line of defense against intruders, thieves and even potential employee misconduct. Choosing wisely protects your staff, your stuff and your data.

What is an Access Control System?

Access control systems control entry to your business space and can also establish levels of access for areas of the office and particular devices. The system authenticates the identity of the user and cross references against a database to attain the access authorization level. This system gathers and stores data that then enables a business owner to monitor movement of employees and visitors in the office, which could lead to identification of perpetrators if there is a security breach and enables proactive assessment of security risks to make adjustments as needed.

There are several types of authentication:

  • Key fob/access card – a physical card that can be swiped or scanned for entry.
  • Biometrics – facial recognition or fingerprints that identify the person seeking access.
  • Password or pin code – approved users can enter into a keypad.
  • Mobile apps with barcode – approved users download the app to their phones and then generate a barcode to enter the office in the same way they’d use a key card.

There are many benefits to these forms of authentication. For each, the system administrator can immediately turn off an employee’s access credentials upon his or her leaving the company. Additionally, for companies previously using a security guard or receptionist to approve access, technology supported systems speed up access for employees who previously may have had to wait their turn in line. And, if there’s an emergency, access control systems can enable quick lock-down if needed.

Types of Access Control

There are two approaches to connecting the various components within a system, including door readers, locks, and cameras and the administrative system or dashboard, which is generally a computer:

  • Traditional systems use control panels physically connected to system equipment. This is seen as the more secure option of the two types of systems, but it can be limited or costly in that there are caps on the number of access points that can be attached to a control panel. If one panel doesn’t support the number of access points you require, you either have to reduce access points or invest in additional control panels.
  • IP systems are network-based, connecting door readers using the Ethernet or wireless connections. This removes limits on the number of access points in the system but there is concern about the potential for the system to be hacked.

There are three types of access control systems:

  • Discretionary Access Control (DAC): This is the least stringent form as it provides one level of access for all with approved credentials.
  • Mandatory Access Control (MAC): This is the strictest and most work- intensive form of access control as it requires the system administrator to assign an access level to each individual added to the system.
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC): This is the most common form. With this approach, roles or job titles are added to the system with a level of access assigned to each based on the access needs someone in that role will have. Then when a new person is added to the system, they are added with a given role or job title and the level of access is automatically assigned. This is also called rules-based access.

There are also several options for hosting your system:

  • Locally hosted via an on-site server generally using a PC for system administration.
  • A cloud-based system that stores access permissions in the cloud and the administrator can access the system dashboard from anywhere via a web browser. The admin should experience uniformity of functionality across
    devices, i.e. access, information and experience should be the same whether on PC, tablet, mobile, or other device.
  • A mobile or smartphone based system offers administrative and user functions via an app.
  • An IoT based system is an “integrated network of intelligent computing devices connected through internet to communicate with each other without any human interference.
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25 Oct

The Advantages of a PTZ Camera Over its Peers

What are PTZ Cameras?

Cameras are cameras with the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) and allows you to monitor larger areas that would require multiple fixed cameras. These movements can be manually controlled by using monitoring software or a joy stick, or automatically set up using camera management software.

Being able to move the camera necessary by a security guard allows your security staff to respond quickly to events they spot with the surveillance system.

You can also use camera management software to set up guard tours, where the camera will automatically move to monitor pre-set locations on a schedule. Some cameras can also auto track movement, following a person or car moving in its field of view by moving to monitor suspicious actions or high-action areas, PTZ cameras offer the security of video surveillance while minimizing installation.

How PTZ Works
Panning

  • The camera can swivel to the left and right, allowing it to have a wide area of coverage
  • Pan can range from a complete 360 circle to smaller area

Tilting

  • The camera can tilt up and down, giving it a wide vertical range of coverage
  • The amount the camera can tilt will vary by camera model, but goes up to 180 degrees

Zooming

  • Optical zoom physically adjusts the camera lens, changing the focal length to zoom in and out; this allows the camera to maintain image quality
  • The amount of optical zoom is expressed as #x, such as 18x, and represents how
    much the camera can zoom (change the lens focal length)
  • Digital zoom blows up the image using software, often resulting in pixilated
    images when zoomed too far, and is not recommended

How PTZ Cameras Can Help You
Because PTZ cameras can automatically move in response to activity or pre-set schedules, a single camera can often be used to monitor an entire room or area that would require two or more fixed cameras. This flexibility makes them idea for locations where a lot of activity occurs including shopping areas and parking lots, because they can follow anything out of the ordinary that happens. Other uses for PTZ cameras can include:

  • Wide open areas with many points of interest, so the camera can move to monitor them all
  • In guard stations, where security personnel can pan, tilt, or zoom the cameras as they see suspicious activity
  • As part of the overall surveillance system, in conjunction with fixed cameras—the PTZ camera can follow activities, while a fixed camera can take detailed shots.

When installing PTZ cameras as part of a surveillance system, there are some important factors to consider. PTZ cameras should be a part of your overall system, so ask yourself:

  • Is facial recognition important? You may want to consider using a PTZ camera to monitor the entire room from a high viewpoint, and a strategically placed HD camera to capture faces
  • How much do you need the camera to pan and tilt? A 360 pan removes all blind spots, but a camera in a corner doesn’t need to record the blank wall directly behind it

Do you want optical or digital zoom? Optical zoom provides clearer, more detailed images because the zoom isn’t taken after the image is taken PTZ cameras are available from all major surveillance camera brands including Vista,  Axis, Optica and Vivotek.

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19 Oct

City Developments Limited (CDL) Upgraded to Suprema’s Security Solution

City Developments Limited (CDL) is a leading global real estate operating company with a network spanning 103 locations in 29 countries. CDL is a well-known reputable residential condominium development in Singapore. They are recognized for supplying diverse portfolio comprising of residences, offices, hotels, serviced apartments, integrated development and shopping malls.

THE CHALLENGE

IT department in CDL has the responsibility to provide a secure but user-friendly access control system to its employees. The building’s access control points such as doors, turnstiles, parking gates and elevators were managed by RFID card readers where the system granted or denied access to employees when cards were presented to a reader. However CDL had deployed multiple card reader systems requiring employees to use different cards at different access points. This created entry delays due to queues formed at various entry points. Additionally, as they were dealing with excessive number of cards, a lot of administrative work and costs were incurred as when cards got lost, they had to get deleted and new cards were re-issued.

THE SOLUTION

Upgraded the entire system to Suprema’s access control products to replace the use of cards to fingerprint biometrics. The system is centered around use of the CoreStation, Suprema’s intelligent control panel. A total of 10 units of CoreStations are installed inside the main server room that are connected to 48 units of BioEntry W2 fingerprint readers. BioEntry W2’s leading performance of 150,000 matches per second and IP67/IK09 compliant housing makes it suitable for all entrances and doors in any environment. In addition, OM-120, multiple output expansion module, are installed in 9 different lifts each with BioEntry W2 fingerprint readers to control access to different floors of the building. The entire system is operated seamlessly by Suprema BioStar 2 access control platform. The new system offered a solution that is far more convenient and secure over the previous RFID system which led to great customer satisfaction

KEY BENEFITS

 1) Easy to Use – Not having to carry cards greatly increases convenience for the employees. At the same time, use of fingerprint enhances security as use of biometrics makes sharing of credential impossible.

2) Faster Processing Time – CoreStation’s performance of 400,000 matches/sec and user capacity offers speeds that exceeds normal card readers.

3) Improved Security – No ethernet connection and data storage on BioEntry W2 readers improve overall security of the system and protection of employee data

 

 

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29 Sep

MANAGING YOUR HOME FROM YOUR DEVICES – HOME AUTOMATION

Home automation systems give you centralized control of lighting, AC, windows, home entertainment, security systems and other appliances. Wulian smart Home Automation delivers luxury, comfort, convenience, entertainment, security, safety and energy savings.

GETTING STARTED WITH SMART HOME AUTOMATION USING

If you’re looking to get started with DIY home automation, the first question isn’t how, but what? What are you planning to automate? Then, once you have the what, you can wade through the crowded milieu of home automation products, gadgets and gizmos, and focus on how to achieve what you want to do.

automation encompasses everything from the very simple (smart lighting) to the extremely complex (full-home security–both indoor and outdoor–including motion-activated video with smartphone alerts). Where you start will depend on your priorities, your home, and, very likely, your budget. Because with home automation, the sky’s the limit for both possibility and price.

Here are 10 simple steps on how to automate your home today in a nutshell:

  1. Set Up Smart Lights to Turn On/Off on Schedule
  2. Program Your Thermostat for Energy Efficiency
  3. Automate All Your Electronics, Appliances and Devices
  4. Install Smart Locks on Doors for Security
  5. Switch to Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors for Better Safety
  6. Get a Programmable Irrigation System and Automate Your Landscaping
  7. Schedule House Cleaning with a Smart Vacuum
  8. Automate Your Garage Door for Peace of Mind
  9. Install a WiFi Video Doorbell for Security
  10. Connect and Control Your Home Entertainment with One Device
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Biometric Vault Management
18 Sep

BIOMETRIC VAULT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

BIOMETRIC ACCESS CONTROL VAULT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Banks and financial institutions are no outsiders to biometric technology like the Biometric Access Vault Management System, yet they’re indicating new enthusiasm for this innovation, in light of current circumstances. Passwords have for some time been known as a defective technique for validation. Numerous individuals still utilize a similar secret word on a few sites, making it simple for cybercriminals to take their character. To balance that, FIs influence multifaceted verification, for example, once passwords sent over SMS or email, yet clients discover the procedure cumbersome. Accordingly, biometric validation utilizing facial, unique finger impression and voice acknowledgment, just as other biometric methods and advancements, is on the ascent around the world.

To expand client maintenance and income, budgetary foundations are evading a one-size-fits-all methodology.

The bank vault is one of the most important aspects of the banking sector, this is where treasures, valuables, money, records, and documents are kept, and any compromise to this section of the bank can lead to the fold-up of the bank.

Read Also: PEOPLE COUNTER: IMPROVING BUSINESSES AND ITS SAFETY 

Bank vaults are a vital piece of the structure inside which they are developed utilizing protected dividers and a solidly planned entryway shut with a mind-boggling lock. The security of the vault is the absolute most significant part of the vault framework. The bank vault, for the most part, comprises of locks that include a correct mix for it to open and after that two uncommonly planned keys are additionally utilized together with the lock blend, these keys are given to two distinctive faculty in the bank to keep and at whatever point there’s a requirement for anything to be removed from the vault or to be put inside the vault the two workforces are constantly required to be around to both open and lock the vault framework. Regardless of the security level engaged with the bank vault framework, there is as yet the waiting likelihood of trade-off.

A wrongly handled key, a divulged password, a malicious hacker, and organized criminal groups can almost easily make a vault system vulnerable. To prevent the possibility of internal compromise by the staffs of the banks that have been given the duty to keep the keys to the vault and the passcodes of the vault higher level of security such as the use of biometrics has to be implemented. Biometrics technology now has a very wide range of applications in virtually all industries Biometric Access Vault Management System (BAVMS) is a solution used to automate and authenticate vault door access control. The mode of authentication is based on individual unique behavioral or physical traits such as iris, fingerprints, facial, etc. is referred to as biometrics.

Biometrics Framework

Biometrics is utilized for robotized individual acknowledgment. The study of perceiving people dependent on their interesting conduct or physical characteristics, for example, fingerprints, face, voice, walk and so on is alluded to as biometrics. Sensors are typically used to get biometric qualities. Biometric frameworks procure the one of a kind attributes curious to it just because by means of a procedure called enlistment. The one of a kind highlights of a biometric attribute is procured during enlistment. To confirm the realness of a client, the biometric framework makes a correlation between enlisted biometric quality and the question attribute. This correlation, as a rule, restores a match or confuse. Biometric attributes are novel. Biometric frameworks use the uniqueness of biometric qualities to forestall pantomime. Most biometric frameworks are either Unimodal or Multimodal. The Unimodal biometric framework, as the name infers, utilizes only one biometric quality while the Multimodal framework utilizes more than one biometric attribute. The utilization of multimodal strategy improves the proficiency of biometric framework.

Fingerprint Recognition

Fingerprints are the most settled for and most part uses a kind of biometric recognizable proof. Each individual’s fingerprint is extraordinary. The structure of the edges and valley on the outside of the fingers is in charge of this uniqueness. Explicit focuses, called details focuses are utilized to separate fingerprints. In Unique finger impression acknowledgment, the particular edges on the fingertips delivered the impressions from which highlights are being separated.

 

BAVMS Lock Operation


More than 2 persons (Vault Custodians) will be given access privilege to the vault doors. Any two must combine both fingerprint and unique individual password to have access to any of the doors (i.e. if Vault Custodians with Access Privilege in each bank branch are A, B, C, D: to gain access to the vault anytime will require both password and fingerprint combinations). Possible combinations are A&B or B&C or B&D or A&C or A&D or C&D. The system is designed to follow a predefined sequence of steps in an orderly fashion. These steps are Idle state, Request state,

Registration state and authentication state. At the idle state, the system is not being operated upon or used. This is the initial state of the system at startup; it can be changed from this state to another and back. Request state involves the users to press the enter key on the keypad and the state of the machine transit to the request state, where the fingerprint and the Passcode of the user are requested for, In the case where only the fingerprint is presented without the Passcode for scanning the system returns to an idle state. Registration state occurs only once, and it is the stage where the authorized personnel fingerprint and Passcode are picked and stored in the database. At the authentication state, the individual presents his fingerprint or Passcode to be scanned depending on the biometric trait registered for the individual, the scanner then extracts the features and runs a check with the registered features that are in the database for a match. When a match is found the system moves to the authenticated state if a match is not found then the system returns to the request state.

 

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29 Mar

PEOPLE COUNTER: IMPROVING BUSINESSES AND ITS SAFETY

PEOPLE COUNTER: IMPROVING BUSINESSES AND ITS SAFETY  

Supermarkets and convenience stores provide us with the essentials of life. They support families and communities in every locale around the world as a vital part of our homes, neighborhoods, and lives – every day. Because of this, they are also vulnerable to subtle dangers. Hikvision is dedicated to developing the most advanced video surveillance technology in affordable, convenient, and vitally effective packages for today’s security needs.

More than just security, the Smart Solution 2.0 packs the most advanced technologies into complete end-to-end solutions for shopping areas of any kind. Video surveillance, business intelligence more all come together in flexible and powerful components from the world’s number one security solution provider.

Smart and reliable People counting

Big data is no longer just a buzzword. Today, access to detailed, real-time insights about customer behavior is a core competitive advantage in many industries. Video-based people counting offers retailers and other service industries a way to capture and analyze customer data from their locations.

For instance, it is used by:

  • Retailers to calculate conversion rates and evaluate the results of their campaigns
  • Museums and event companies to easily provide visitor statistics

Smart Solution for Supermarkets & Convenience Stores

  • Ensures around-the-clock safety for customers, personnel, and merchandise
  • Resolves transaction disputes and aids loss prevention
  • Provides complete central management of chains and enhances operations
  • Measure the number of customers or visitors
  • Evaluate and improve marketing and promotional activities
  • Optimize staffing schedules and daily operations
  • Analyze and share relevant footfall statistics

In addition you can also measure queue, gain demographics insights and estimate store occupancy.

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29 Mar

HIKVISION iDS-2CD6810F-IV/C CAMERAS

iDS-2CD6810F-IV/C is a specialized people counting camera, supporting separate counting of people entering, exiting, and passing by.
The camera combines various crucial and advanced technologies, including binocular stereo vision, 3D people detection and tracking, and height filtering, to guarantee high accuracy.

FEATURES

  • 1/3” Progressive Scan CMOS
  • Dual lens, dual CPU, support stereo views
  • 2 mm/2.8 mm/4 mm lens, optional
  • Max. resolution 640 × 960
  • H.264
  • Flash memory storing people counting data
  • 3D digital noise reduction
  • 12 VDC/PoE
  • Up to 5 m IR range
  • IP66

SPECIFICATIONS

Camera
Image Sensor 1/3″ Progressive Scan CMOS
Shutter Speed 1/25 s to 1/10,000 s
Auto-iris Manual
Digital Noise Reduction 3D DNR
Angle Adjustment Tilt: 0° to 45°
Lens
Focal length 2mm, 2.8 mm and 4 mm, optional
 

Aperture

 2.0 mm: F2.2

2.8 mm: F2.0 4 mm: F2.2
 

FOV

 2 mm: horizontal FOV 105°, vertical FOV 89°

2.8 mm: horizontal FOV 83°, vertical FOV 68° 4 mm: horizontal FOV 63°, vertical FOV 55°
Lens Mount M12
IR
IR Range Up to 5 m
Compression Standard
 

Video Compression

 Main stream: H.264 Sub-stream: H.264
H.264 Type Baseline Profile/Main Profile/High Profile
Video Bit Rate 32 Kbps to 8 Mbps
People Counting
Statistics Support separate counting of people entering, exiting, and passing by
Data Uploading Support real-time uploading and uploading by statistic cycle
Email Report Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual report supported
Height Filter Support
Image
Max. Resolution 640 × 960
 

Main Stream Max. Frame Rate

 50Hz: 25fps (640 × 480)

60Hz: 24fps (640 × 480)
 

Sub-stream Max. Frame Rate

 50Hz: 25fps (640 × 960)

60Hz: 24fps (640 × 960)
Image Enhancement 3D DNR
Image Setting Brightness and sharpness are adjustable by client software or web browser
Day/Night Switch Auto, scheduled, day, and night
Network
Alarm Trigger Video tampering, alarm input, alarm output, network disconnected, IP address conflict, illegal login
Protocols TCP/IP, ICMP, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, DHCP, DNS, DDNS, RTP, RTSP, RTCP, NTP, UPnP, SMTP, SNMP, IGMP, 802.1X, QoS, IPv6, UDP, Bonjour
General Function Anti-flicker, heartbeat, password protection, watermark, email data report
API ISAPI, RS-485, HTTP
Simultaneous Live View Up to 6 channels
User/Host Up to 32 users
3 levels: Administrator, Operator and User
Client iVMS-4200
Web Browser IE8+, Chrome31-44, Firefox 30.0 – 51
Interface
Communication Interface 1 RJ45 10M/100M Ethernet port

1 RS-485 interface
Alarm 2 inputs, 1 output (up to 24 VDC 1 A, or 110 VAC 500 mA)
General
Operating Conditions -30°C to +60°C (-22 °F to +140 °F), Humidity 95% or less (non-condensing)
Power Supply 12 VDC ± 25%, terminal block

PoE (802.3af, class 3)
Power Consumption and Current 12 VDC, max. 7 W, 0.6A

PoE(802.3af, 36 V to 57 V), max. 7 W, 0.2 A to 0.13 A
Protection Level IP66
Material Body: metal; enclosure: plastic
Dimensions Camera: 226 × 88 × 64 mm (8.88″ × 3.48″ × 2.50″)

Package: 260 × 125 × 125 mm (10.24″ × 4.92″ × 4.92″)
Weight Approx.850 g (1.87 lb.), 1050 g (2.31 lb.) with package

Available Models:
iDS-2CD6810F-IV/C (2mm), iDS-2CD6810F-IV/C (2.8mm), iDS-2CD6810F-IV/C (4mm)

Installation Recommendation

Following table shows the relations among focal length, mounting height, and max. detection span of typical values. For detailed installation advice, please contact the technical support of HIKVISION.

Focal Length (mm) Mounting Height (m) Max. Detection Span (m)
2.0 2.5 1.8
2.0 3.0 2.9
2.0 3.5 4.0
2.0 4.0 5.2
2.8 3.0 2.2
2.8 3.5 3.1
2.8 4.0 4.0
2.8 4.5 4.8
2.8 4.7 5.2
4.0 4.0 2.8
4.0 4.5 3.4
4.0 5.0 4.0
4.0 5.5 4.6
4.0 6.0 5.2
Note: Mounting height of 2.0 mm lens camera should be no higher than 4 meters. Mounting height of 2.8 mm lens camera should be no heigher than 4.8 meters.
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13 Mar

Tips For Managing Tech Distractions In The Workplace

Nine Tips For Managing Tech Distractions In The Workplace

1. Model Good Behavior 
 
Workers take their cues from their leader. If the leader is multi-tasking and checking email while in meetings, so will the team. If the leader responds to email 24/7, so will the team. The leader should set the tone for a healthy, balanced relationship with technology, so the team embodies a best practice where technology is a tool, not a distraction. 
 
2. Be Clear On Why And When To Use Certain Technologies During Work
 
Technology can be a blessing and a curse. To utilize technology in its best and most useful ways, companies must discern the whys and whens of their use of technology: Why are they using a certain technology, and how often should those technologies be used? When their whys and whens are discerned, technology becomes an asset — not a liability.
 
3. Be Intentional About Your Time Management
 
Recognize time as the most precious commodity in life, and be intentional with it. Devise a time management approach that ensures the most critical items on your schedule and plan are done first and promptly. Devise a habit-nurturing approach that divides the available time into categories and ensures your focus and emphasis is on the highest value items.
 
4. Don’t Allow Devices In Meetings
 
People in meetings should be present. Devices are disrespectful and distracting. Standards should be set: no devices in meetings. Set them to silent, remove them from the table or “check” them somewhere in the room. For those taking notes on a laptop, flatten the screen to break the barrier created when the screen is at 90 degrees. This lets others know you are present and not checking Twitter. 
 
5. Deliberately Develop Your Ability To Focus
 
The average human has an eight-second attention span. We are set up to accept distractions. Deliberately develop your ability to focus like an athlete in training. Define the topic on which you will focus and for how long. Unplug from unworthy distractions, and determine what other distractions warrant your attention.
 
6. Disable Pop-Up And Sound Notifications
 
Tips for keeping technology from becoming a distraction in the workplace are to turn off pop-ups, turn down the volume, schedule response times and develop a personal emergency notification system. If there is someone who needs your attention right away, ask them to text or call you directly. This approach will allow you to manage technology instead of allowing technology to manage you. 
 
7. Concentrate On Goals And Expectations
 
There have always been distractions, and there will always be distractions. To avoid them, the best approach is to constantly concentrate on goals and expectations. People generally understand their goals, but you have to also constantly communicate what is expected as they strive to achieve those goals. As long as the expectations are being met, then all is good.
 
8. Set Aside Designated Technology Time
 
With the overload of technology in the workplace, it can easily become a distraction rather than a tool. To increase productivity and minimize ineffectiveness due to technology interruptions, schedule “technology breaks” where you can actively engage in the use of technology at specified times to stay up-to-date, then schedule “work time” where technology is silenced or hidden from view.
 
9. Focus On Keeping Employees Engaged Enough That They Don’t Notice Distractions
 
Employees get distracted when they don’t engage with their work enough. While companies can regulate the use of technology, such as social media, they cannot guarantee that their employees are happy and, hence, engaged and productive. It’s important to get employees to do meaningful work, inspire them with a compelling vision and shiny goals, and create an environment where they want to do their best.
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Biometric Access Vault Management System (BAVMS)
01 Mar

Benefits of Biometric Access Vault Management System (BAVMS) to Banks in Nigeria

Benefits of Biometric Access Vault Management System (BAVMS) to Banks in Nigeria

 

The bank vault is one of the most important aspects of the banking sector, this is where treasures, valuables, money, records, and documents are kept, and any compromise to this section of the bank can lead to the fold up of the bank.

Bank vaults are an integral part of the building within which they are constructed using armored walls and a firmly designed door closed with a complex lock. The bank vault usually consist of locks that involve the right combination for it to unlock and then two specially designed keys are also used together with the lock combination, these keys are given to two different personnel in the bank to keep and whenever there’s a need for anything to be taken out of the vault or to be put inside the vault the two personnel are always required  to be around to both unlock and lock the vault system. Despite the security level involved in the bank vault system, there is still the lingering probability of compromise.

 

Biometric Access Vault Management System (BAVMS)

 

A wrongly handled key, a divulged password, a malicious hacker, and organized criminal groups can almost easily make a vault system vulnerable. To prevent the possibility of internal compromise by the staffs of the banks that have been given the duty to keep the keys to the vault and the passcodes of the vault higher level of security such as the use of biometrics has to be implemented. Biometrics technology now has a very wide range of applications in virtually all industries Biometric Access Vault Management System (BAVMS) is a solution used to automate and authenticate vault door access control. The mode of authentication is based on individual unique behavioral or physical traits such as iris, fingerprints, facial, etc. is referred to as biometrics.

Biometric-based authentication system has good accuracy for authentication. A BAVMS implementation immediately eliminate all the problems the legacy systems are characterised with such as Inefficient operations; Non-compliance to banking policy; Standalone operations; Access compromise; No Audit trail; Non-enforcement of Vault Opening Duration; Tailgating; Missing and Shortfall of Funds

Below are some specific benefits of the BAVMS.

  1. Efficient Operations: All the inefficiencies being experienced with the manual key and code operations in the management of the vault systems will stop. No more cases of lost key and code sharing, seeing that designated users will have to be physically present at duty post. That is, unauthorized absence at duty post will be known to the bank’s management as backup and modification can only be done on the administrative application. This ensures the efficiency of operations and processes.
  2. Banking Policy Compliance: The CBN policy of dual access combination in the management of the vault and ATM rooms which has not been fully complied with. With the inclusion of BAVMS technology, absolute compliance will be achieved since biometric verification is involved.  
  3. Centralized Management Platform: The management and distribution of designated users, vault doors and ATMs will be centrally managed on a single platform. The intuitive graphical user interface of the platform provides for easy distribution and assignment of available users including weekend and holiday emergency access, thereby eliminating the inherent lapses of the manual process.
  4. Compromise Prevention: The manual process leaves room for various levels of compromise among the cash officers & HOPs- keys and codes sharing, eavesdropped, and so on. The BAVMS ensures that access to the vault will be automated with a unique identity, thus forestalling the collusion or compromising of banking officers.
  5. Electronic Audit Trail: All activities on the opening and closing of the vault doors will be available permanently and electronically. Users and accessibility historic logs can be made available at any time for audit exercise.
  6. Vault Opening Duration: The current attitude of leaving the vault doors open from resumption is not the approved standard. Since the vaults are to be accessed within a duration, automating its opening interval will encourage users to comply with the bank’s approved standard.
  7. Tailgate Prevention: With the automated setup of opening duration, tailgating by unwanted users will be prevented.
  8. Missing and Shortfall of Funds: The incidence of missing and shortfall of funds will also be presented with an automated process.

 

 

An improved biometric bank vault system using a fingerprint. The operational stage of the system is into two stages: the biometric enrollment stage where the fingerprint of two different individuals will be taken. Templates of the images acquired were stored along with the particulars of the authorized users, in a database. These stored templates were used to identify and authenticate users of the bank’s vault system.

To verify the authenticity of a user, the biometric system makes a comparison between the enrolled biometric trait and the query trait. This comparison usually returns a match or mismatch. Biometric traits are unique.  Biometric systems utilize the uniqueness of biometric traits to prevent impersonation. Most biometric systems are either Unimodal or Multimodal [8]. The Unimodal biometric system, as the name implies, uses only one biometric mode while the Multimodal system uses more than one biometric mode. The use of multimodal method enhances the efficiency of the biometric system.

Fingerprints are the most established and most generally utilized type of biometric identification. Every individual’s fingerprint is unique. The structure of the ridges and valley on the surface of the fingers is responsible for this uniqueness. Specific points, called minutiae points are used to differentiate fingerprints. In Fingerprint recognition, the distinct ridges on the fingertips produced the impressions from which features are being extracted. The fingerprint image is captured using an optical scanner, is enhanced and converted into a template. Algorithms are responsible for determining the level of similarity or otherwise of fingerprints.

The most widely used biometric trait is the fingerprint. It is quite accurate and reliable as a biometric identifier. However, fingerprint biometric systems can return a false match or mismatch whenever users fingers were too dry, too wet etc.

The operation of this solution will involve two stages: the biometric enrollment stage where the fingerprint of two different individuals will be taken to be stored in a database and the identification or authentication stage where the already registered fingerprint will be checked for a match in the database with the new input to grant access into the vault. Registration state occurs only once, and it is the stage where the authorized personnel fingerprint is scanned and stored in the database.

Once the individual has been enrolled into the system the user is then given access to the vault. Identification simple means a one to many matches requiring the user to provide either his fingerprint as a means of identification. The just-acquired biometric sample presented for identification is compared to the previously stored sample in the database if there is a match with the fingerprint enrolled, access is provided to the vault door, and otherwise, it is declined.

At the authentication state, the individual presents his fingerprint to be read depending on the biometric trait registered for the individual, the access control reader then extracts the features and runs a check with the registered features that are in the database for a match. When a match is found the system moves to the authenticated state if a match is not found then the system returns to the request state.

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