Technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence, Genetec, has announced that Westfield UK has implemented a Genetec Security Centre across its Stratford City and London sites.
“It was immediately apparent that Genetec would be an important strategic partner for us today and tomorrow”, explains Adrian Howles, Security Manager, Westfield UK.
“The platform is comprehensive, intuitive and as part of our five-year strategy, the open architecture gives us so many options.”
With a shared platform in place, Westfield UK is now able to manage security functions from centralised control rooms, bringing economies of scale and added resilience to its operations. The common interface has also brought greater uniformity to how day-to-day security issues are responded to across the two sites.
The ability for Genetec Security Center to support a phased migration of security operations to the cloud also appealed to Mr. Howles. To maximise return on past investments Westfield UK is currently running most of its security infrastructure within its on-site data centers. However, it is already preparing for greater cloud adoption when existing hardware reaches end-of-life.
“Knowing the system is cloud-ready and can support centralised monitoring if and when we need it to is very attractive. We can realise significant cost efficiencies and further improve our high levels of security and resilience,” adds Howles.
Looking ahead, Westfield continues to push the capabilities of its Genetec systems, looking beyond security to find other ways it can add value to the business as a whole. One example is the integration of Security Center with Westfield’s Delivery Management System which has automated the granting of access for pre-approved vehicles in and out of the yard.
Another is the adoption of Genetec Mission Control and Genetec Clearance to streamline processes, support operators and simplify the GDPR compliant sharing of video footage internally and with third parties.
“Front-line security is an all-encompassing role, so we rely on technology to support our people in responding predictably and effectively to whatever gets thrown at them,” concludes Howles.
“Westfield UK has consistently demonstrated its ability to thrive within a retail and leisure market that is both dynamic and challenging. We’re proud to support them for the long-term with technology that drives smarter ways of working and even greater efficiency,” says Francesco Serra, Genetec Vice President Sales, Europe.
Enjoy the latest fire and security news, updates and expert opinions sent straight to your inbox with IFSEC Insider's essential weekly newsletters. Subscribe today to make sure you're never left behind by the fast-evolving industry landscape.
Sign up now!
