A Powerful Combination

Jan 1, 2004 12:00 PM

StorageTek is a $2 billion worldwide company with more than 7,000 employees in 32 countries. The storage solutions and services firm faces many of the same security challenges as other companies — theft, espionage, accidents, workplace violence and others. And like many security departments for large enterprises, the StorageTek security operation faces the challenge of shifting perception about security from being considered a cost center to being acknowledged as a value-added resource.

With more than 85 video cameras protecting people and property throughout StorageTek's Louisville, Colo., headquarters campus, video recording and review play an essential role. “Video data is the currency of the security business,” says Tawnia Wormell, StorageTek security systems coordinator. “It's what you use to investigate and to prevent losses. It's your eyes in the field.” Recently, when management and the security team evaluated their security system, three areas stood out for improvement:

• upgrading from analog to digital recording;

• integrating security systems to improve productivity and effectiveness; and

• increasing storage capacity and flexibility to accommodate the first two objectives.

Why Not a DVR-Based System?

When Wormell and Tamara Miller, security system administrator, began to evaluate various options to upgrade their analog recording system, they first considered a system built around digital video recorder (DVR) technology. “Our minimum storage requirement was 30 days worth of video, and our ultimate goal was 90 days. Eventually, we wanted to have centralized viewing and storage for all our video data — from this location and from locations around the United States and around the world,” said Miller.

Because of future increased storage and viewing requirements and the desire for centrally-archived video, StorageTek found DVR technology lacking due to limited functionality and higher cost for this type of application. DVRs can only accommodate so many cameras per unit, and the amount of video StorageTek wanted to record would require large hard drives and consequently more DVRs. Furthermore, they would need to record at lower frame rates than desired and would need to compromise on system effectiveness. Another potential drawback with a DVR is the risk of losing viewing and the stored data from up to 16 cameras (on a multiplexed system) all at one time.

The Solution: Powerful Networked Video Surveillance Combined with Flexible Storage

Wormell, Miller and personnel from the IT department evaluated a range of options to replace existing analog recording going forward and to meet the performance and storage criteria. Ultimately, they chose the DVTel SecureLink NVRS or network video recording system. The DVTel system provides a software-based platform to perform event-based recording while using the existing network infrastructure with minimal need for additional hardware. In choosing a networked video recording solution over a DVR, one factor emerged as critical. “With a DVR you lose recording and viewing functionality since the number of cameras divides the total frames-per-second,” Wormell says. “But with DVTel's solution, we can select different frame rates for viewing and recording on each individual camera. This gives us greater control and flexibility of the system, and allows us to control bandwidth needs on the network.” She also noted: “The scalability of this system is excellent, whether we are adding one camera or 50. We are able to purchase exactly what we need, when we need it.”

The DVTel NVRS functions as an integration platform for several mission-critical security systems. It incorporates the most desired features of three best-in-class hardware systems — DVR, video matrix switching system, and video multiplexer — into one software-based system. The NVRS is based on a distributed architecture, which allowed StorageTek to leverage its security investment in legacy equipment including cameras, network and control center equipment. Another important feature of the DVTel system: It allowed StorageTek to reduce costs by replacing VCRs with off-the-shelf PCs. The system will continue to save money during future expansions, since the open architecture allows them to choose the best components for their needs.

StorageTek integrated the DVTel NVRS with its own Security Surveillance Digital Video Archive product, combining hardware — disk or disk and tape — with powerful storage management software for a complete storage solution and for attachment to existing network infrastructure while protecting existing investments. The StorageTek integrated video and storage system virtually eliminates manual intervention while providing sophisticated virtual storage management. Digital video information is stored on the right storage device and is always available, regardless of data location, age or file size. Also, the storage resources themselves allow for longer retention of video data. With VCR technology, StorageTek retained no more than 30 days of video before recording over the tape. With digital technology, the company can store video data indefinitely. “Given that the storage requirements for a security surveillance system can be significant, if it weren't for the flexibility and capacity of the StorageTek security surveillance digital video archive option, we couldn't justify the cost to upgrade our security surveillance system. It would have been too expensive, despite what we're achieving in terms of functionality and performance,” Miller said.

Improved Productivity, Measurable ROI

The combined DVTel-StorageTek installation comprises 85 indoor and outdoor cameras covering 11 buildings, multiple gate access points, building entrances, and other critical areas.

Since the project's implementation in May 2003, StorageTek has experienced a number of incidents that were resolved through video review. “It was incredible, in less than 10 minutes, we found the video and the critical information needed to move forward with the investigation,” said StorageTek investigator Jo Lynn Fresquez.

Wormell has also noticed a major difference. “Job performance has risen dramatically with this system. We used to wade through hours of unrelated video to see what happened during a security event. Now we can review incidents based on the time and date of the suspected event,” she says. “That cut investigation time from four hours to 15 minutes or less. We can now investigate more events and regain more lost assets. This automation also allows our security force to become more proactive, and we can intervene when an activity is occurring rather than resolve incidents after the fact.”

An internal StorageTek analysis of its upgraded surveillance solution reveals significant measurable results in addition to the qualitative benefits. Miller explained, “The system is easy to use and requires very little training. The maps graphical user interface (GUI) feature allows our operators to customize and automate activities. The combined solution has provided us significant increases in operator productivity and incident investigation effectiveness — while costing less than competing products. Our analysis of the surveillance solution shows that incident review costs are dropping from $146 to $4.50 per incident; increased investigation productivity is expected to save $20,500 annually; maintenance outlays are projected to fall by $13,000 per year, and our recovery of stolen property will increase.”

Not Just a Cost Center Anymore

In total, StorageTek anticipates an estimated $37,500 gain per year from its enhanced security efficiency and effectiveness. These productivity and monetary dividends have gone a long way in convincing StorageTek management of the efficacy of investing in security management and in revising the prevailing notion that security is just a cost center “black hole.”

For StorageTek, a networked video solution has proven to be highly cost-effective and reliable — since implementation there has been no downtime for the system. StorageTek's needs will grow and change going forward, and the software-based networked video solution will be able to accommodate future integrations with intercom and access control as well as advanced features and functionalities like network management, incident reporting, image analysis, and more. In fact, the integrated offering installed at StorageTek has proven so effective, the two companies have joined forces to market the bundled solution to provide other users with an approach to meet even sophisticated security system requirements.

Steve Rice, senior practice manager, security surveillance, at StorageTek provided information and assistance in the writing of this article and welcomes any questions at steve_rice@storagetek.com

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