Most of you would agree that ATM security is a major pain point for banks and ATM operators alike. The rising number of ATM crimes aggravates the concerns of ATM managers, yet we see most ATMs are satisfied with conventional security practices like security guards and surveillance cameras to safeguard their ATM sites. It’s now time to think whether these facilities are sufficient to address the current security challenges surrounding ATMs and bring profitability to ATM operators.
Look at a typical ATM business scenario in an emerging economy like India where ATM deployment is growing at an alarming rate, at a CAGR of 24 percent (Source: Edelweiss IB estimates, 2013). On an average the operational costs of an ATM including electricity, property maintenance and security stand around Rs 50,000 per month for ATM operators. In an ideal scenario an ATM requires an average 170 transactions per day to cover these costs. However, the national average of daily ATM transactions in India is 125-130 a day, which means that ATM operators in India need to rethink their business strategy to make them profitable. Worldwide, the scenario is no different in both developing and developed countries.
Coming again to the security challenges of an ATM site, let us analyze the case of an ATM in India that needs security personnel to guard the site 24×7. The cost of employing a single person comes anywhere between Rs 7000-1000, making the total cost for three people in three shifts in the range of 21000 – 30000 per month. Despite shelling out this amount, the security of the site is not guaranteed. The growing number of ATM crimes involving human assaults in the country indicates that security guards are vulnerable to such threats. In short, manual security is not a solution to current ATM issues.
The rising number of ATM crimes indicates that the salary spent on security personnel may not reflect any value in your account books. Such instances on the other hand prove that human security in ATMs was a wasteful expenditure because it not only failed to secure the site but also risked the life of a human being as well as the reputation of the bank. .
My question to you is this: Why should we resort to such risks if you have better ways to deal with the issue? Instead of shelling out Rs 30,000 per month and wait for some mishaps to happen, why don’t you opt for a solution that protects your ATM from all such security challenges?
Let me introduce WebNMS ATM Site Manager, the all-in-one ATM site manager solution that protects and manages your ATM sites from all kinds of security threats. ATM Site Manager consists of a remote telemetry unit (RTU) that connects to WebNMS centralized network management system. The ATM sites are equipped with different types of sensors, the data of which can be captured by the RTU and transmitted to the CMS. The information is instantly delivered to the ATM site operators in the form of SMS alerts or emails. Also, there are smartphone apps that can deliver the message directly to the user’s mobile phone.
WebNMS ATM Site Manager is integrated with all devices like door sensors, camera, alarm, PIR sensors, smoke/fire alarm, temperature/humidity controls and energy meters. Imagine a scenario of a robbery in an ATM. When unusual movements are detected near the machine or within the ATM, the sensors raise alarm. The doors are also fitted with sensors to detect forced entry so that in the event of an untoward incident the sensor shoots alarm to the security personnel or the operations manager.
The fire/smoke sensors can detect smoke or rise in temperature within or around the site, and accordingly it triggers siren. The sirens are loud enough for the public to listen and act upon the occurrence of such events. The ATM site is fitted with high resolution 360-degree view camera that can capture each event within the site and report the visuals to the ATM managers for action. The events are transmitted as it happens, so there is always a sense of security in the ATM.
With all the security aspects handled automatically, it becomes easier for ATM managers to assess the security situations in real time and act accordingly. The fully automated M2M solution eliminates the need for security personnel to guard each ATM, minimizing the expenditure on human resources. If an ATM is secured through WebNMS ATM Site Manager, there is no need for physical security. Instead the ATM provider can appoint one person to handle a cluster of ATMs – say 100 or more—located in a city or village. This means huge cost savings and increased profitability to ATM business.
It is estimated that M2M solutions like WebNMS ATM Site Manager can bring nearly 40 percent savings on security expenses in ATMs, in addition to savings on energy expenses and infrastructure.
