Security & Surveillance Solutions Provider
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Dubai Islamic Bank
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Dubai Islamic Bank has the unique distinction of being the world's first fully-fledged Islamic bank, a pioneering institution that has combined the best of traditional Islamic values with the technology and innovation that characterize the best of modern banking. Since its formation in 1975, Dubai Islamic Bank has established itself as the undisputed leader in its field, setting the standards for others to follow as the trend towards Islamic banking gathers momentum in the Arab world and internationally. Islamic banking is now one of the world's fastest-growing economic sectors, comprising close on 200 institutions responsible for assets estimated at more than $200 billion. With the growing opportunity Pakistan has to offer in the banking sector, Dubai Islamic Bank has recently launched its operations with two branches, and plans of further expanding the banks reach all over Pakistan. |
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Requirement
With security and surveillance in mind the Dubai Islamic Bank required a solution that would aid management to effectively secure the sites. With plans to open more branches, the solution would have to be expandable with time and without heavy costs.
Currently, the bank had two branches in close proximity and one head office. The branches had a total of 25 cameras installed at the cash counters, the ATM machines and all entry exit points. The head office had 16 cameras installed at required locations. The solution required had to be cost effective and yet deliver superior quality and performance in terms of video footage.
Solutions
With Milestones functionality and feature list Dubai Islamic Bank attained all their requirements with ease, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Unlike a DVR based system, the software can record up to 64 cameras on a single machine, which being a dual Xeon is still a cheaper solution than the DVR's that would be used to record 64 cameras.
The solution was provided by Astaa Technologies, Milestone Partners in Pakistan. Astaa Technologies is the company that pioneered the concept of ip surveillance in Pakistan. Being partners with Axis Communications, Sweden, Astaa Technologies has provided solutions to a range of industries including the banking, industrial, and government and retail sectors.
Operations
Milestone Xprotect is installed on two server machines one at the main branch which is close to the other branch, and one at the head office. The existing IT infrastructure is used with the IP cameras and managed networks. This has saved on the cost and hassle of installing a separate coaxial network, which would have been an impossible task since the cameras were installed after the completion of the site itself. The security officer and bank manager view the cameras and the recordings from the client software while the server is managed by the IT officials who manage the network. Recordings from the branch are archived on a daily basis at the head office so as to secure the footage. If a client has objections against the transaction, the respective footage is viewed directly at the main office and the video burnt on a CD is filed with the client's document
The advance features of the remote client not only allow the managers to monitor all their cameras, each manager can be given restricted access to cameras.
Since the bank already has a well managed network established for its banking operations and a collection of servers and computers, the installation of IP cameras avoids the costs for cabling, monitoring and recording machines that would be required as a separate installation at each site.
The client software features ensure that personnel of varying designation can get access to limited features of cameras of their concern, so if a security manager has access to cameras from multiple branches, the branch manager would only have access to cameras of his or her respective branch.