After an on-site visit and consultation, Alvarado recommended installation of SU5000 optical turnstiles between the exterior and interior doors at five separate locations within the facility to help eliminate tailgating and unauthorized entry. Aesthetics were important, and the slim cabinets and crystal clear panels of the optical turnstiles blended perfectly with the building design.
Alvarado optical turnstiles improve security at financial institution
Most security breaches start out innocently – an employee opening a door and holding it open for others, visitors without badges, or the passive acceptance of a uniformed worker. These common security lapses were issues that this financial services company faced at one of its facilities.
With over 1,200 employees, the facility operates as the call center, mobile banking center, and back-up data center for all of its locations. The building has multiple exterior doors to enter the facility. Once inside, there are secondary doors to access specific areas within the building. Both the exterior and interior doors are equipped with card readers, requiring employees to scan their credentials at both doors to gain entry.
The company hired a security consultant to perform an audit. The consultant sent a professional, disguised as a vendor, to gain unauthorized entrance into the building. He was able to gain access to the building by what is commonly referred to as “tailgating”, where he followed very closely behind a badging employee through one of the interior doors. The company needed a better way to protect its people and assets from potential unauthorized entry threats. Alvarado was contacted to review and help formulate a solution to improve security at the facility. With over 60 years of experience and thousands of installations worldwide, Alvarado is considered an expert in secured entry control systems.
Secured Entry Solution
After an on-site visit and consultation with the end user, Alvarado recommended installation of SU5000 optical turnstiles between the exterior and interior doors at five separate locations within the facility to help eliminate tailgating and unauthorized entry. Aesthetics were important, and the slim cabinets and crystal clear panels of the optical turnstiles blended perfectly with the building design. A total of eight lanes of SU5000 optical turnstiles were installed and integrated with the building’s access control system.
Employees and visitors are now required to scan credentials at the turnstiles before proceeding to the secondary doors. Upon presenting a valid credential, the turnstile barriers open, allowing one person to pass. In the event of an unauthorized entry attempt, the turnstile sets off an alarm, locks the secondary entry doors and alerts the command center of the violation.
Alvarado Turnstiles Pass the Test
After the SU5000 units were installed, the disguised consultant returned and made several unauthorized entry attempts. The newly installed Alvarado optical turnstiles prevented every attempt and the company passed its security audit.
Results
Since installing the SU5000 lanes, many instances of unauthorized access into the building have been prevented.
The physical security specialist at the company said, “The Alvarado turnstiles have significantly improved our security and we couldn’t be more pleased with their operation and visual appearance. Installing the turnstiles also spurred a welcome change in company culture, making people more aware of the risks and empowering them to challenge unfamiliar faces.”