BANKING & FINANCIAL
PROTECTION & SECURITY

PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Banking and financial institutions face unique and complex risks and threats ranging from opportunistic criminals, to professional criminal enterprises. As such, institutions by best practice, and in some cases by legal requirement; ensure system-level protections, cameras and alarms, and access controls are utilized. Despite state-of-the-art cameras, alarms, employee training, and more; risks are ever-present. With hundreds to thousands of customers and citizens entering daily, the potential of an incident remains a viable concern.

While many institutions take a cooperative approach to criminal acts which occur, the presence of armed professionals has disrupted the planning and action by would-be criminals throughout history. With the current socio economic climate in the United States, it’s never been more important to ensure proper protections are in place. In consideration of physical protection and deterrence, institutions should ensure professionals who take a community-first approach; and who do not escalate and worsen situations that may arise.

Comprehensive Financial and Banking Security Solutions

Institutions wanting to ensure effective financial or bank security systems and process are in place should take the following into consideration: plans and procedures, physical bank security personnel, alarm systems, access control systems and devices, audio/video surveillance, and reporting systems. Each of these should be viewed as complementary, and should be integrated and working in conjunction with each other for optimal efficiency. With the advances and focus in technology and automation, it can be easy to forget the human component; which is vital to an effective approach. Having an experienced professional can both leverage technology in place, and interpret data and situations in real time. A security professional can also impart positive emotions by staff and customers alike, while serving as a powerful deterrent to would-be criminals.

Since virtually every bank and credit union conducts cash-based transactions; staff and consumers handle and exchange large sums of currency each day. This is not taking into consideration the cash assets kept on premises, nor that which is kept in vaults and safe deposit boxes. As a result, banking institutions have always been an attractive target for robberies, panhandling, fraud, and other criminal acts. A single incident causes unmeasurable trauma for those involved, the effect of which is infinitely amplified if the criminals harm anyone unfortunate enough to be present at the time of the crime.

After-hours pose other risks to financial and banking institutions; namely burglaries, break-ins, systems breach; and theft. Utilizing a multi-level approach to security, institutions can better safeguard and protect their customers, staff, and assets. Having well-maintained systems and experienced security personnel will serve to better deter and prevent criminal acts. Integrated access control systems can document and manage ingress and egress, employee movement, prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas.