Securing a leading insurance provider's Irish headquarters

Our client is a global leader in insurance, wealth, and retirement solutions, serving over 18 million customers across the UK, Ireland, and Canada. Their mission is to help individuals maximise their life’s potential, plan effectively for the future, and ensure they have reliable support in times of need. The client’s Irish headquarters, strategically located near the final stop of the Luas tram, faces heightened risks including anti-social behaviour, street crime, and substance abuse. Given these challenges and rising costs of physical security, the client needed an effective solution that balanced budget constraints with enhanced security.

Challenge

The primary challenge was to secure the Irish HQ amidst rising security costs and increased risk levels due to the building's location. The facility’s low fence line and publicly accessible front entrance and car park exacerbated the security issues. The close proximity to a high-risk area heightened the urgency for an improved security strategy. Securitas Ireland was tasked with devising a security plan that would deliver increased protection while adhering to a specific budget, and the solution needed to address both the physical and electronic security aspects of the property.

Solution

Securitas Ireland conducted a thorough review of the existing security measures and identified opportunities to optimise the deployment of physical security hours. By aligning security presence with the building's operational hours, we reallocated resources to focus on high-risk periods. This adjustment allowed for reallocation of the budget towards upgrading the building's technical electronic security systems. Our solution included the implementation of an advanced, AI-integrated CCTV system, which enhanced the system’s intelligence and proactive capabilities. This system, monitored 24/7 by our dedicated CCTV monitoring station, ensured comprehensive coverage of the property.

Additionally, we increased the frequency of our nightly mobile patrols and installed a SentriGuard key management system for secure onsite keyholding. The risk assessment also highlighted areas for further improvement, which the client is now addressing thanks to the ongoing savings from our solution.

Benefits

The security enhancements delivered several key benefits to our client:

• Proactive security solution: By integrating AI technology into the CCTV system, we provided a proactive security solution that enabled real-time responses and advanced monitoring, rather than reacting to incidents after they occurred.
• Enhanced safety for staff: The upgraded security measures contributed to a safer working environment, boosting staff confidence.
• Innovative technology deployment: The adoption of cutting-edge AI technology and secure key management systems represented a significant advancement in building security.
• Financially economic: The solution was designed to be cost-effective, staying within the allocated budget while delivering superior protection.
• Reduction in anti-social behaviour: The enhanced security measures led to a noticeable decrease in reported anti-social behaviour and traces of substance abuse on site.
• Ongoing savings and improvements: The financial savings realised in the first year of the project enabled the client to invest further in additional technical improvements as recommended.

This case study illustrates how Securitas Ireland effectively combined strategic resource management, innovative technology, and proactive solutions to address complex security challenges, ultimately providing the client with enhanced protection and significant cost savings.

Peter McElhone, Solutions Development Manager, Securitas Ireland

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