Security for Banking: 1,000 NVRs and Over 2,500 IP Cameras in Saudi Arabia

The NCB is using Idis technology for one of the biggest financial surveillance system upgrades ever seen in the region, involving at least 1,000 NVRs and over 2,500 IP cameras. The bank, which serves over 5.4 million customers and is the second largest in the Arab world, chose an Idis solution to modernize its security and comply with the latest standards introduced by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) and Ministry of Interior.

Idis confirmed that the project involves an upgrade to full HD IP technology across 400 branches and more than 2,580 ATMs, to be completed ahead of the 2021 deadline. NCB, also known as AlAhli Bank, needed NVRs that would provide Raid 1 and RAID 5 support, and a solution that would allow integration of both IP and existing analog infrastructure, and the capability to cost-effectively store video footage for a full year. The solutions provider Almajal G4S was appointed and, following a competitive tender process, Idis technology was identified in detailed and rigorous proof-of-concept testing.

Gradual Transition
The Idis solution delivers operational benefits at the installation stage as well as in daily operations over the lifetime of the system. “Key advantages for the client in choosing an this solution are the technology’s robustness, its resilience against data loss and the high level of protection against cyber threats. It is also ensures a frictionless migration from existing analogue,“ says Ahmad Said, ESS Director at Almajal G4S. Thanks to its hybrid capability, the technology allows analogue and IP cameras to be used together, making the upgrade project easily manageable with a seamless, staged switch-over.  
For this mission-critical project, Idis’s Linux-based servers and proprietary protocols also offer a high level of resistance to hacking, while zero-configuration eliminates the need to manage IP addresses for every device. An important consideration for the bank was the manufacturer‘s Intelligent Codec which, together with dual H.264/H.265 performance, delivers up to 90% reduction in bandwidth and storage. This gives the bank significant on-going savings while allowing compliance with video data storage rules. It also speeds up recording retrieval and helps to make NCB’s new security system easier and more economical to run.

Efficient Management
With the upgrade already proving its value, the bank’s central monitoring teams now work more efficiently, with their system providing event forwarding, acknowledgments, notifications and live pop-ups. Providing a low total cost of ownership, the solution will allow efficient maintenance and simultaneous remote upgrades for multiple devices and gives NCB the assurance of the company‘s Ultimate Warranty. With the project is due for completion in 2019, NCB and the associated Idis solution will achieve full compliance with the new SAMA standards.