More firms use IP kit to secure their premises

Card readers, biometric readers and CCTV make up eclectic mix

Sixty-four percent of firms use IP networks to manage systems to monitor and control access to buildings, or have plans to deploy such systems, according to a new survey of UK IT directors by research firm Vanson Bourne.

The security systems may include card readers, biometric readers and monitoring tools such as CCTV. Rick Marshall, UK managing director of IT services provider Comunica, which commissioned the survey, said, “Moving over to IP gives firms the ability to web browse systems and integrate them with other information tools. Tools such as intelligent infrastructure management systems can sit on top of the cabling infrastructure and manage your IP security devices.”

Financial sector firms lead in deploying such systems – 31 percent have already implemented the technology and a further 38 percent plan a rollout this year. Manufacturing firms come last – just nine percent have deployed systems so far, though 43 percent plan rollouts in the next 12 months. Of smaller firms, only 16 percent have implemented these systems.

However, unified security management over IP may pose risks. Marshall said that most users would not be able to access the controls, but experienced hackers might try to do so.

A third of the IT directors said that physical security would become their responsibility rather than that of facilities management, and a fifth said that cultural barriers and a lack of acceptance by staff were the main barriers to rolling out the technology.

IT directors of 100 firms were surveyed; 25 percent were in financial services firms, 25 percent were in retail distribution or transport firms, 25 percent were from manufacturing, and the final quarter were in other commercial firms.