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| Nextiva VMS has been seamlessly integrated with Software House’s CCure access control platform |
The Customer
Located in the United States, this government institution is one of the country’s oldest and most valued entities. Its campus includes multiple locations in and around the Washington D.C. area. Constructed in the 1800’s, this entity has become a national treasure housing items collected throughout our nation’s history.
During the 20th century, this government institution experienced a rapid expansion – assuming more of a preeminent public role. In order to protect and monitor its property, people and staff, more advanced security was needed. Following the 1986 “Electronic Communications Privacy Act” law, which allowed law enforcement to use rapidly expanding technologies such as video surveillance, this agency installed a comprehensive platform.
Opportunity
Few crimes occur on the campuses, and the security department works hard to keep it that way by monitoring the inside and outside perimeters with advanced video surveillance. The buildings and campuses are connected with over 2,000 cameras strategically placed to view the massive amount of intelligence, as well as watch its visitors and staff. The cameras are all viewed through Verint’s Nextiva Video Management Software which helps ensure the efficient operation and up-time of the system, uninterrupted access to recorded video, and the continuity of live and recorded video distribution to client applications.
With its geographically-dispersed facilities being located in both urban and rural areas, the entity relies on remote access of offsite locations that are used for long-term archiving with localised access.
Solution
Using Nextiva Multisite, a feature within the video management software, each site can operate independently of other sites. As a result, there is no single point of failure and at any time the system administrator can manage configuration of the entire system from any of the sites. Nextiva Multisite is run over a wide-area network (WAN) and ensures that if the Multisite Server fails or loses its network connection, the Nextiva sites are unaffected. Additionally, each off-site location can operate with the same functionality as the others.
The system also includes a line of Nextiva video encoders that are designed to deliver excellent imagery while using significantly less network bandwidth and storage. The S1800e series of encoders feature high definition technology and H.264 video decompression enhancing the overall system performance. These encoders allow the agency to leverage its current analog camera infrastructure. The encoders also come with on-board video analytics to help detect potential threats and capture video and audio. Leveraging the information captured from these powerful encoders – both video and audio inputs – the security department can obtain a greater level of detail when investigations are required.
"Leveraging the information captured from these powerful encoders – both video and audio inputs – the security department can obtain a greater level of detail when investigations are required" |
Archiving video and audio is incredibly important. There are workstations located throughout the property that are being used for live monitoring of selected areas as well as for forensic analysis of recorded content. All data collected is archived for 30-90 days, or as required by the security department. The Nextiva solution allows the team to easily store and recall this information with minimal strain on the network to ensure that live recording is not altered.
Due to the sensitivity of some of the assets within this government entity, there are some rooms that require an extra layer of security and protection. These areas use the highest resolution video capture as well as record any and all ambient noises with an audio surveillance monitoring system. The Nextiva system allows the agency to easily integrate with third party technology to create a custom solution that addresses their individual security requirements.
Results
Throughout the facilities, the Nextiva Video Management Software has been seamlessly integrated with Software House’s CCure access control platform. This powerful combination allows both access control and video to be simultaneously displayed through a single-user interface for video verification of access control related events. Having a centralized management of both the access control and video surveillance system provides the government agency with many of the following benefits:
- More efficient search and retrieval functions
- Video and records can be instantaneously distributed with other locations or agency officials
- Enhanced camera functionality to zoom in into specific events
The Nextiva portfolio offers one of the highest levels of integration with access control partners. The system allows information to be passed in both directions. For instance, the access control event can retrieve both live and recorded video from the Nextiva system as well as trigger an event within the Nextiva system. As a user accesses a secured location, that “event” would trigger the video management system to call up the camera monitoring that area, potentially increase frame rate or zoom in for more clarity, or initiate addition escalation. Likewise, an event generated by the Nextiva video management system due to say, a person loitering around the perimeter or an act of vandalism, can be pushed to the access control platform. That new event would require immediate action from the access control management counsel.
The information collected, stored and shared throughout this entity’s facilities is considered amongst the most important national treasures. As more assets are added to each of the locations and more people are accessing the facilities, protection continues to be paramount to securing this data. Looking to the future, this agency will continue to leverage cutting-edge technology. Current plans include increasing the amount of commercial off-the-shelf servers and storage to accommodate the growing data collected as well as working with key vendors that support the open architecture and ONVIF conformance.
As a customer for over a decade, this government entity continues to choose Verint’s non-proprietary solution that can be deployed across a variety of servers, cameras and edge devices.
