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| Rosenthal has Milestone XProtect Business version 3.1 for a 16 camera license and the PMA |
Part of this business strategy included making the decision in 2002 to replace an analog-based security system that recorded on video tapes. They wanted a solution that is digital and scalable to allow for branch expansions. In the summer of 2003, R & R established a branch in California, installing the equipment to be hooked up with a secure connection, with central control from the New York headquarters. Connecticut and Florida are on the future agenda.
“We decided to choose a digital platform because we want to be able to furnish security to our entire organization, to be ready for the expansions as planned. Because of the digital technology wave, you have so many solutions in the secondary market you now can buy. You have more flexibility to view the images faster,” states Ashraf Selim, Chief Information Officer at Rosenthal & Rosenthal. “When it came to our security decision, it was based on one main focus: What was our target? Was it to have cameras to scare people off? If only that, we could just put up some dummy cameras! But we needed to have better images – that’s why we got the XProtect® solution. It’s like the black box in an airplane: if the unfortunate incident happens, we need to know what happened. If we have a poor solution that doesn’t provide us this information, it defeats the purpose of the whole thing."
Old Analog Videotapes In Black And White
The company’s previous co-axial analog setup was very old, recording images onto videotapes in black and white with very poor quality.
“When we viewed the tapes, basically all you could see was shadows: you could tell someone’s height and general size but that’s about all!” explains Jose Aponte, Technical Services Supervisor at Rosenthal & Rosenthal. "Now we can convert files to AVI and save them on DVD so if somebody wants to investigate, they get the best results. I want to give the authorities involved PC-compatible image files that are equivalent to the videotapes available before.”
Finding The Solution
Jose Aponte was operationally responsible for the IP video surveillance project at R & R, including the installation
“I did the research on it myself and found Milestone through Google on the internet; there was only one other possible competitor. Philip Mumford of Mumford Associates has been very cooperative as a partner. He came and demonstrated the software for us and had the expertise to give us information for determining which cameras to use,” Jose reports. “I was especially impressed that XProtect is able to view multiple cameras on the same screen.”
Fast Installation
“Installation was accomplished in June and July 2003 and only took about one day for the software, while the cameras took about a week or two including the cabling. We tested it twice to be sure it worked smoothly,” says Jose Aponte, who was assisted by Nestor Medina.
The old analog setup on Panasonic cameras, running parallel with the new Axis network cameras while they carried out the installation of the new system, served as a backup until they could get all the new cameras up and running smoothly. They have ensured coverage of all doorways, reception areas and stairwells.
Rosenthal & Rosenthal has security guards and three receptionists in addition to the IT administrators Jose Aponte and Nestor Medina – all having access to the system. They report that training in using the system went fast.
“It was quite easy to set up the multiple users with different kinds of access.” - Jose Aponte, IT Administrator
Protecting The Premises
The building where R & R has their offices includes different business occupants on other floors, so there are actually multiple security systems within the whole complex. The Milestone XProtect solution used within Rosenthal & Rosenthal is for protecting their own two floors.
Ashraf Selim clarifies: “Internal security is not a problem, though. We have tremendous loyalty in the company. In addition, after the tragedy of September 11, we took the precaution to no longer handle checks internally – we have moved into a ‘lock box’ with one of the financial institutions in NY for handling checks outside the premises.
Storage Of Image Files
R & R has a high resolution on their cameras that takes lots of disk space, so they have invested in a new Snap Alliance server with a high storage capacity of 720 gigabytes.
“We save our images for 3 months, but only those images where motion has been detected, converting them to AVI files stored on DVD for quick availability” says Jose Aponte. “If someone comes to us and says they need to see the recordings from last week on Sunday for cameras 1, 3 and 12, we’ve got it ready to give to them right away off the shelf.”
“This stocking of AVIs on DVD is also good against the risk of blackouts – like the big one we just had last week here in New York! You can have any UPS running Notebook and retrieve these images if you need them,” Ashraf Selim continues. “The drivers for the AVI format are now available for free from any website to anyone who might need to see these images, then they can be given the proper authorization to see them.”
Nestor Medina adds: “We still look at the JPEG images before converting over to AVI – the recording options in Milestone XProtect give us the ability to preview the video for this purpose, which is very good.”
The Benefits
Rosenthal & Rosenthal now has significantly increased their security coverage from 5 to 15 cameras, recording 24 hours a day. They know that they are ready for the future of the company as it expands, and the option of remote access with central control from headquarters.
Ashraf Selim summarises: “I think our setup in here would be very similar to other mid-size financial organizations – and there are many of us in the United States, who are using either analog, building security guards, or nothing at all. The issues we are facing don’t include hazardous environments like production sites or deal with lots of cash creating danger for employees, but it’s about normal day-today procedures for a financial organization and what that requires: that in case of an incident, we have the evidence that can help us to resolve the issue. We may call it not security, but more like insurance. We know that if something goes wrong, we have enough information about the issue – and that’s the whole point: forward thinking and being prepared, reducing risk.”
The Solution
Rosenthal has Milestone XProtect Business version 3.1 for a 16 camera license for now, and the PMA to ensure they always get updates of the newest versions. They know they can easily upgrade in the future with more cameras when needed for other locations.
They have installed 16 new digital Axis 2100 cameras (four of these Axis cameras are using the new Power Over LAN solution). They are running their surveillance on a Compaq Evo D5S PC server Pentium IV, with the Snap Appliance 440.
