ATM security: how to use all the capabilities of video surveillance

According to the European Safe Transaction Association (EAST), in 2018, the number of physical attacks on ATMs in Europe increased by 27% (from 3,584 to 4,449 incidents), and the amount of money stolen this way increased by 16% (from 31 to 36 million Euro).

Our case analysis showed that banks did not use their full functionality to prevent the crimes despite having all the necessary tools. For example, banks turned to video surveillance to get information on transactions, although it provides many more benefits. The modern video surveillance solutions increase the basic level of self-service device protection, provide proactive ATM protection, simplify access to video when resolving disputes, and optimize operating with large amounts of transaction data.

The bank must have a high-quality, reliable network connection with its terminals, a dedicated server for storing data, and strict access control procedures to realize all these functions.

1. Real-time response to attacks

Modern video surveillance systems are capable of reporting incidents in real-time. If attackers try to force a terminal, the bank’s security service receives an alarm notification and event footage and can respond immediately. Notice that special alarm sensors should be installed on the ATM to realize this function.

The system can be configured so that the alarm notifications come to the mobile phone. Besides, you can set a scenario when any unlawful impact on an ATM occurs. Your scenario could close the doors to the space where the ATM is located, send a signal to the police, and turn off the terminal.

When anyone covers the ATM camera, the video surveillance system sends a notification to the bank’s security service. The officer can turn off the ATM so that the criminals will not copy information or install any malware on the ATM computer.

Thus, modern video surveillance systems can protect both from physical and a range of logical attacks. Anti-skimming devices and a white noise generator can be installed on an ATM as additional prevention tools.

2. Data security

Video surveillance solutions help associate a transaction with a photo or video. The camera records everything that is happening in front of it during the transaction.

All recorded photos or videos are stored on an ATM, so bank employees must have physical access to ATMs to get this information. In a case of dispute, they have to go to the ATM, copy the files and bring them to the security office. This increases the incident response time. And if the bank needs to process information from several ATMs, the time increases in proportion to the number of terminals.

Another problem is that data may be deleted during ATM maintenance.

In the case of ATM theft, all the recorded data will be lost. Even if the camera detects the faces of the criminals, this will not help the police because the video evidence will stay in the hands of intruders and the money.

Comprehensive video surveillance solves the problem of data storage. The centralized management system allows banks to gather information from all ATMs and store it on a well-protected bank server. The data can be stored on the server for a long time. In some countries, this period is regulated by law.

3. Access to photo and video of transactions

Photos and videos collected from all ATMs are stored on a server. The bank can easily search for the necessary information about any transaction by various parameters (card number, transaction date, event, or alarm). The system collects information from all devices of the terminal network so that you can search through your entire ATM fleet. This reduces the response time to disputes and requires less effort from the bank to resolve them.

Card details are masked according to PCI Data Security Standard to ensure a high personal data security level. Only authorized users can access them.

4. Face detection and recognition

Modern video surveillance systems provide a face detection function. It determines whether there actually is anybody in front of a self-service device during the transaction, and if the face is not detected, the ATM does not cash out. This reduces the risk of some fraudulent actions.

Face recognition is the next step in modern video surveillance solutions. It can be used as a factor or full-fledged way of authorization of ATM users, service personnel, and CIT officers. It also links the user’s face with their transaction, so banks can find all transactions in which certain individuals were involved.

ATMeye.iQ from BS/2

BS/2, a developer of software solutions for banks and other commercial organizations, offers a multi-vendor video surveillance solution – ATMeye.iQ.

ATMeye.iQ can easily be integrated into an already functioning banking infrastructure and provides many valuable services, such as event-based snapshotting and video capturing, pre-recorded and post-recorded features camera status checks.

You can learn more about ATMeye.iQ product from our company representatives.