Raiffeisen Bank Aval scales new heights with PSIM-powered security

Later, Raiffeisen Bank Aval, AxxonSoft, and leading Ukrainian security systems integrator Istagroup joined forces to accomplish this strategic task. The security system needed to include all bank sites (branches, offices, ATMs, cash pickup/dropoff points, etc.) and allow monitoring them from a central hub. Currently PSIM-based systems protect 630 bank locations, with over 2,500 IP cameras.

Client

Raiffeisen Bank Aval, a public joint-stock company (formerly Aval joint-stock postal and pension bank, until 25 September 2006), was registered on 27 March 1992. In 2005, the bank became part of Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG, Austria.

Raiffeisen Bank Aval offers its clients a broad array of both traditional and innovative services through its nationwide network of over 900 branches in major cities, regional and district centers, and villages all over Ukraine.

The bank's accomplishments have won praise from the press, influential experts, rating companies, partners, and clients in Ukraine and abroad.

In 2011, the British financial journal Euromoney praised Raiffeisen Bank Aval as the "Best Bank in Ukraine" for the fifth time.

According to the Bank Friendliness Rating of Korrespondent magazine, Raiffeisen Bank Aval is the best private financial institution in Ukraine in terms of overall customer satisfaction. And according to BrandGuard 2011, a Ukraine-wide rating of brand value, the Raiffeisen Bank Aval brand is the most valuable brand of any Ukrainian bank.

Challenges

Any bank is a special kind of institution, with a product that demands particular vigilance and security. A bank must have the trust and loyalty of its clients, who can rest assured that their savings are under careful guard. So the security system for a bank must be: 1) comprehensive (defend not just central offices but also all branches, departments, and other affiliates), 2) fault-tolerant and absolutely reliable, 3) flexible and manageable from a central hub, and 4) easily scalable (since the bank may be constantly opening new branches and installing new ATMs, etc.).

The Axxon PSIM platform fit the bill precisely, having previously acquitted itself at Raiffeisen Bank Aval with flying colors. But the bank is continually growing and adding new branches, making it necessary to supplement and broaden the system. In short, the bank needed to install a wide range of security hardware and then tie it together with Axxon PSIM software.

Solution

Thus the project goal was to create an integrated security system to unite all of the bank's security equipment in various locations via hardware and software, with centralized data collection, processing, analysis, and storage capabilities as well as a central management hub.

The updated security system was designed to accomplish the following tasks:

• Enable efficient monitoring of security at bank branches thanks to quick reactions from operators, who have access to a uniform user interface.
• Automatically record and control access by employees and visitors to branches and provision access to rooms, storage areas, and security zones.
• Provide comprehensive 24/7 security for staff and assets.
• Perform smart analysis of information, automatically react to situations of concern, and automatically run complicated event-driven scripts.
• Keep the bank's ATM network safe.
• Make sure that fire suppression systems are in good working order.
• Electronically track and automatically monitor how access keys are stored and issued.
• Perform integrated monitoring (with video, audio, and electronic captions) of cash transactions and counting rooms.
• Analyze business processes by collecting data on workplace time and attendance, customer line length, number of visitors, etc.

The integrated security system is being deployed gradually. 630 bank facilities (branches, offices, and cash pickup/dropoff points) are currently protected by local Axxon PSIM based video monitoring systems. The system includes over 2,500 IP cameras and 9,500 analog video cameras from JVC, a long-time reliable partner of AxxonSoft.

The new JVC Professional line of IP cameras is connected to the Axxon PSIM integrated security system as well, offering exceptionally high video quality. It is now possible to even recognize the value and serial number of individual bills in a video frame, which is invaluable for monitoring cash transactions.

A monitoring hub with an LCD video wall has been created for centralized management of video surveillance on a regional level.

What's in store?

In 2013, AxxonSoft plans to finish equipping bank branches with local Axxon PSIM based video management systems (about 300 in all). New smart hardware and software systems (cash transaction and counting room monitoring, safety and business process analysis, and ATM protection) powered by Axxon PSIM will be developed, along with scheduled replacement/modernization of existing security systems from other manufacturers to integrate them with PSIM.

The Partner

Istagroup is a leading Ukrainian security systems integrator for sites of all scales of complexity. The company is also a distributor of security equipment for video surveillance and access control. By providing security systems from world-leading brands and actively deploying state-of-the-art equipment from the biggest names in security, Istagroup offers compelling options for security customers in Ukraine.

Additional useful information

"AxxonSoft support is second to none. When transitioning your largest customer to a new software platform there is always a major concern. AxxonSoft stood by me every step of the way and used all there resources to make this a success."

Gene Parisi, President, Proactive Solutions (AxxonSoft Partner - USA)