For technology’s sake

Technology has moved a long way since an automated tape machine dialled 999 and played a pre-recorded message to the police. Until recently, monitored secure signalling relied heavily on the use of PSTN telephone networks, using either Redcare or DualCom. The main requirement being that should the signal path fail, operatives in the alarm receiving centre are able to notify the building owner or the emergency services there is a problem or confirmed attack.

While IP (Internet Protocol) signalling is being hailed as the next evolution in monitored signal technology for intruder alarms, it is being treated with some caution by the security and insurance industries particularly when the reliability of the links in the signalling chain are examined in more detail.

From a security perspective, IP signalling has no technological advantage over existing signalling methods. The key motivator for using IP signalling is the potential of financial savings by removing the need for a dedicated PSTN telephone line for the security system’s signalling connection and utilising instead the customer’s existing IP computer network to transmit emergency alarms and events to the alarm receiving centre. If the telephone line is not dedicated to the alarm system it is questionable as to whether IP has any significant benefits over other established signalling methods.

From an insurance perspective there are some concerns regarding the use of IP signalling and its general resilience when utilising an organisations existing IT infrastructure. These concerns are reflected in two publications written by IPCRes (Insurance Property Crime Research working group).*

IP signalling introduces another link in the signalling chain which is outside of the control of the security company or its third party service providers, this being the resilience and reliability of the customers IT infrastructure. IP signalling is reliable and secure provided the customer has a stable and well managed IT infrastructure and the IP primary signalling path is backed by a secondary mobile network GPRS signalling path.

If IP is the only method of alarm signalling at the premises a failure on part of that IT network will result in the signalling going offline and unable to transmit emergency alarm signals for the duration of the failure of:

• the network (WAN or LAN)

• network router or switching equipment

• mains power failure to the premises or any network routers or switching equipment

• the network point at the alarm panel

With IP the responsibility for ensuring the resilience of the signalling link has shifted from the Alarm Company to the building owners network administrator. Inadvertent (or deliberate) actions by a company’s staff or network administrators could result in the signalling going offline, such as:

• closing or changing fire wall ports

• changing network router or patch panel configurations

• disconnecting the internet from the organisations network

• failure of the ISP (Internet Service Provider)

• disconnecting power from equipment on the network infrastructure

• disconnection of the alarm panel from the IP network

As a result of these considerations security consultants should strongly recommend that IP signalling has a secondary GPRS back-up path to ensure the signalling method cannot be compromised.

However, we must not pour scorn on new technology and evolutions in signalling, indeed for the right customer IP is clearly the way forward, but it is imperative that the risk is clearly explored before making a decision. IP signalling might not be for everyone, and making an informed decision based on facts rather than focusing on the so called cost savings will ensure the best solution.

New technology and innovation involves a learning process as to how best to apply the technology to real situations. The security industry is still going through that process with IP signalling as it did with other alarm signalling methods.

Further information
In order to download the two publications written by IPCRes please visit infires.co.uk/downloads and click on IP Signalling parts one and two.

Celia Bristow and Peter Stanton:
Marketing Manager and Product Manager – ADT UK and Ireland
Tel: 0808 22 33 999
Website: adt.co.uk.