Let’s talk to one another: security integration in the healthcare sector

The growing security demands faced by public sector organisations are calling for the re-evaluation of older stand-alone systems and the deployment of more updated technologies.

The Security Management Service (SMS) is responsible for the security of property and people across the UK’s National Health Service and is tasked with selecting and implementing the most appropriate level of security across public sector institutions.

Statistics from the National Audit Office state that there were 54,758 physical assaults against NHS staff in 2008-2009, and that the resulting cost to NHS trusts amounts to GB pound 69 million per annum; this clearly shows the challenges faced by the SMS in balancing the need for an open, welcoming nature expected of a public institution and public accessibility with the security of staff and patients.

Securing the healthcare environment is not easy – with facilities often spread across a wide area or even multiple sites, maintaining control of those inside the perimeter, keeping out unwanted visitors, and building a safe and secure environment for those who live and work there does not come easily.

Long-term strategic approach
ADT recommends that organisations take a long-term strategic approach to physical security by considering the overall life safety resources across the sites in question.

This requires analysis of the existing life-safety infrastructure and assessing how present risks can be managed and mitigated.

The temptation to install single-technology solutions should be avoided and instead the focus should be on the consolidation of disparate solutions onto one platform, providing an end-to-end solution to protect all property, staff and visitors.

These should incorporate fire detection and extinguishing solutions, security systems such as access control, intruder detection, perimeter protection and CCTV, as well as monitored emergency response communications.

By taking this approach, facilities are able to acutely strengthen safety and maximise operational efficiency within the organisation in the event of an incident.

Avoid disparate systems
However, it does need to be acknowledged here that decision making within public sector institutions can be an extended process due to the number of approval channels involved.

In some instances, decision makers may opt to source stand alone video surveillance and access control solutions that operate from localised parameters.

While this can speed up the purchase and implementation process, it results in departments having disparate systems with no centralised service, support or knowledge.

The initial convenience of stand-alone installation can unfortunately place institutions at a disadvantage in the long term.

Disparate systems hold the potential to prevent future integration opportunities due to technological incompatibility with other platforms.

Adding to this, incompatible video surveillance systems can lead to complexity and delays for police and security departments dealing with CCTV footage whilst investigating an incident.

With this in mind, ideally an organisation should take the decision to centralise disparate systems to a security control room which manages the integrated security platform internally.

Centralised service
With a centralised service in play, security personnel can realise the true potential of single security platforms, improving incident response time, managing and mitigating problem scenarios in real-time, and enabling higher network resilience in the event of a problem.

Decision makers also need to be mindful of the many integration combinations that can be tailored to suit organisational requirements.

Along with the financial benefits from the reduction in cabling, personnel and hardware, the principle of integration and centralised monitoring provides additional data security, allows for remote reporting and diagnostics and removes local administration needs.

And with healthcare establishments often spread over multiple sites, the migration to IP-based systems may be worth considering as it can offer further costs savings.

Future-proofing
While total integration onto a healthcare establishment’s network is desirable from a cost of installation perspective, legacy networks may not provide the required bandwith without impeding the overall performance of the network.

Where this is an issue, IP-based systems can still offer significant benefits and future proof the system as the network capacity improves by segregating the CCTV system from the network.

With the range of threats and challenges facing public facilities today, long-term thinking and strategic planning in an attempt to solve security challenges is required.

Organisations should take a long-term strategic approach and consider the overall life safety picture across the site.

Formulation of plans and a timeline for migrating to a long term, overarching solution is the most appropriate initial step to achieve a safe and secure environment on a day-to-day basis, striking that important balance between visitor accessibility and staff safety.