Security Systems Management: New Capabilities and Contract Formats
If you have purchased security systems, they will also start to be managed.
You want to maintain the desired level of security and keep the systems up to date.
Now that the majority of security systems are suitable for remote management, there are new and more extensive options and contract forms.
We talk about this topic with René Janssen Steenberg, Manager Service at Mactwin. Mactwin has been managing remote installations from the Mactwin Operation Center (MOC) for almost 10 years.
In addition to the standard management tasks, we continue to unburden organizations remotely (remotely).
What activities do I need to think about when it comes to remote management?
René Janssen Steenberg: “From the MOC , we can, for example, update systems with new firmware/software, adjust the configuration of security software or add new functions,” says René Janssen Steenberg.
“We can also take care of application management, create reports, manage user rights and secure video footage. In addition, and this is very interesting for many customers, we identify technical deviations at an early stage.”
How do you detect such abnormalities at an early stage?
“This is done automatically, because we set alarms on these indicators. Think of deviations in the statuses of batteries and hard disks of video servers and the degree of contamination of fire detectors.”
Can you solve problems remotely or is it just a matter of signalling? “We can also solve more and more technical deviations remotely, from the MOC. This not only improves system availability, but also restore times and costs. In addition, this fits in perfectly with corporate social responsibility: fewer travel kilometres means less CO2 emissions.”
Can you solve problems remotely or is it just a matter of signalling?
“We can also solve more and more technical deviations remotely, from the MOC. This not only improves system availability, but also restore times and costs. In addition, this fits in perfectly with corporate social responsibility: fewer travel kilometres means less CO2 emissions.”
Nowadays we see several new forms of contract.
Where does this need come from?
“Organizations increasingly want to be unburdened, so that they can concentrate on their core process. In doing so, they want to be in control as much as possible. Financially, and also in terms of their level of security.”
How does Mactwin help their clients achieve these goals?
“At Mactwin, we are responding to this by increasingly offering multi-year maintenance plans (multi-year maintenance plans) and all-in contracts. In the latter form, we take full responsibility for the installations supplied or even for the purpose of those installations. There is a longer contract duration and the client pays a fixed amount per year, so there are no more surprises. With these forms of management, we go further than just the technical management of the systems. We take responsibility for the purpose for which the security systems have been implemented and for the desired level of security.”
How does this work in practice?
“When we implement a camera system , it always has a purpose, such as identification.
In the management contract, we agree that Mactwin will take responsibility for the image quality in relation to this objective.
From this point of view, we will assess the camera images at a certain frequency.
Are they sharp enough and do they visualize what has been coordinated in the Schedule of Requirements?
We base the frequency of this on the local conditions (such as weather influences) and the risks.
Bee
For example, in addition to realising early detection and a defined delay time, we can also take responsibility for various organisational matters, such as control room and surveillance services. In that case, we will actively monitor alarm notifications and, if necessary, take action to reduce the number of unnecessary alarms, for example. As a result, we not only save costs (such as emergency services), but we also ensure that alertness to alarm notifications remains at the same level.”
And then you periodically evaluate whether the performance is up to standard?
“Exactly, at least annually, we evaluate whether we are still achieving the desired level of security with the implemented systems and whether the systems are still resistant to any new attack scenarios. If necessary, we coordinate with the customer what additional measures need to be taken.”