Intelligent CIO North America Issue 45 | Page 55

FEATURE : DATA CENTERS
“ The key management system integration has optimized our processes , saved us time and strengthened our compliance . Operators are no longer responsible for assigning pins or removing permissions in the key management system – It ’ s all automatically managed based on the cardholder profile within the Security Center ,” said Rastkar .
Vantage has also used the Genetec Software Development Kit ( SDK ) to develop various custom applications such as a Soft Pin plugin to compile data and metrics from various systems and track key performance indicators across the business .
The same plugin has also allowed the team to standardize everything from system naming conventions and cardholder groups to operator dashboards and reporting schedules across all sites .
“ Though our sites operate independently , the configuration and management of our systems are all the same . This level of global standardization provides greater efficiency and consistency across our business . We have higher levels of compliance , better security and a smoother customer experience ,” said Barakzai . user experience . Dashboards are set up to simplify monitoring tasks , giving operators a quick snapshot of their environment in real time .
Reaching new operational efficiencies with Mission Control Once all systems were unified with Security Center , the team began exploring Genetec Mission Control™ . The decision management system helps operators quickly address the most pressing situations by guiding them through standard operating procedures ( SOPs ). Mission Control also automatically creates incident reports that can be exported and shared with key company stakeholders .
“ It ’ s straightforward to keep our systems updated and make sure our physical security platform is cybersecure . Operators actively use the Health Monitoring dashboard and the Security Score widget which points them to any outstanding issues or opportunities to harden our systems ,” said Barakzai .
There are several layers of security built into all Vantage Data Centers properties . These include various forms of authentication at doors – from card / pin input to biometric fingerprint readers – all of which connect back to Genetec Security Center .
Only cardholders with specific access permission levels are assigned access to the key cabinets and all user activity is tracked within Security Center and linked to the associated video , providing an audit trail for detailed reporting .
In the event of an occurrence , operators can promptly assess the available evidence .
“ Mission Control has delivered a lot of operational value . We schedule monthly reports for our internal auditing and send automated reports to our customers . It ’ s all unified and automated . In many ways , it has exceeded our expectations ,” said Rastkar . Mission Control also helps minimize distractions for operators . The system filters all incoming alarms and only alerts operators to urgent situations . Other preprogrammed automations are built-in processes to ensure that everything is handled appropriately .
“ It ’ s one less thing for the operators to worry about . We have over 30 different SOPs set up within Mission Control . If there ’ s an incident , Mission Control will notify our operators and guide them through all steps to resolve the issue . They no longer need to flip through binders or memorize what to do for each situation .
“ Everything from alarm notifications and response procedures to incident reporting is all automated and standardized ,” said Barakzai . p
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