Many IT managers in casino operations still see video surveillance as a completely separate issue from IT operations. However, a closer look and understanding the “IT-impact” of modern video technology offers advantages for everyone involved.
It is well known that things develop more dynamically in high tech than in other areas. In this respect, IT and video surveillance differ little from each other. But it makes it all the more important for both classic surveillance managers and IT managers to have their finger on the pulse of the times in order to assess developments and make the right decisions.
THE IT-TRIPLE: MORE SECURITY, LESS COMPLEXITY AND LOWER COST
Of course, the situation is different in each casino. While in one company the strategy is to place the surveillance issue entirely in the IT department, in another casino it may be the right model to grant as much autonomy as possible to surveillance colleagues.
But regardless of whether the end result is the complete embedding of surveillance in IT or whether security continues to be operated completely separately, there have been numerous technical and non-technical developments in video surveillance in recent years that should be understood and which provide tangible advantages for the three key properties every IT manager is looking for: more cybersecurity, less complexity and lower overall costs.
SECURITY IS THE NUMBER ONE IT CONCERN – ALSO IN CASINO ENVIRONMENTS
Modern video surveillance solutions are almost exclusively IP-based. This has many advantages, but also one major disadvantage: video technology is by design just as vulnerable as other network-based systems. IT decision-makers are therefore well advised to at least participate in the technology decisions of their security colleagues. How are systems technically secured? Are there the same security precautions known from the IT world: from protection against hacker attacks, to the possibility of separating networks even within the video system – such as separate cameras and recording – to forcing strong passwords?What about the geographical origin of the systems – do they come from countries with a constitutional framework or is there a danger of accidental or deliberate “backdoors” into the systems through intervention by autocratic governments?
HOW MANY DEVICES DOES SURVEILLANCE REALLY NEED?
Linked to the cybersecurity aspect, but primarily associated with cost, is the issue of complexity. It is not uncommon for IT managers, when talking to their security colleagues, to come across a whole series of procedures and set technology “truths” that are seemingly unalterable but above all cause complexity and thus high costs and risks. A classic example is the adherence to the so-called “PTZ” (Pan Tilt Zoom) technology for general gaming floor surveillance. This allows the operator to change the field of view as desired and to zoom in and out of certain areas. The disadvantage of these cameras, however, is that usually only a certain detailed area can be observed. For a complete monitoring of the gaming floor, a large number of cameras must be installed, supplied with a network connection and maintained.
90% LESS TIME NEEDED TO CATCH THE GUY – AT 25% LOWER COST
There are more efficient alternatives: particularly powerful 360° cameras (see blue panel on page 128 for selection criteria) reduce the number of cameras needed significantly and offer an overall view of very large spatial contexts. In particular, resolving incidents and tracking one or multiple persons can be performed much faster than with traditional PTZ-systems. Casinos using 360º systems report up to 90% less time needed to resolve situations or catch offenders.
LESS OF EVERYTHING – MORE FOR BOTH THE IT MANAGER AND THE SECURITY CHIEF
However, it is important to look closely: only a few systems are able to show a complete 360-degree hemisphere; most of the time, the cameras have a blind spot directly below the camera and are therefore only suitable to a limited extent or not at all. For the IT decision-maker – apart from the improved objective security – there is another decisive reason to consider such systems: significantly fewer cameras – even at a higher price per camera – mean significantly less complexity and less infrastructure: fewer ports, fewer cables, less installation effort, less maintenance, less susceptibility to malfunctions and attempted attacks. In short: more efficiency and effectiveness and goal achievement for the IT department as well as for the surveillance manager.
CLOUD AND VIRTUAL MACHINE ENVIRONMENTS
Ease of deployment is high on the agenda for many IT managers – keyword VM capability and cloud readiness. Here, too, there are major differences between the various software offerings in the field of video security. Is there a strategy to unify hardware platforms via virtualization solutions such as VMware? Is cloud on the horizon or already planned? Or is the traditional, on-site, separate infrastructure the preferred option? In any case, it is advisable for IT decision-makers to ensure that the systems can be designed accordingly.
MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS IS NOT DIFFICULT AND ENSURES A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
As an IT manager, making the right decisions – or at least influencing them in the sense of a modern and efficient IT strategy – is often easier than expected. A good overview of the current camera technology and future developments, a healthy portion of scepticism towards solutions from the “we’ve always done it that way” camp and the consideration of one’s own deployment strategy is usually sufficient. And a good night’s sleep for the IT manager is the result.
DALLMEIER ELECTRONIC www.dallmeier.com/casino
