The Client:
CMP Information is the UK-headquartered professional media division of United
Business Media plc. Operating in the UK and Europe, CMPi’s products include
magazines, exhibitions, conferences, awards, directories and websites, targeted
at business professionals across a range of markets. CMPi’s magazines reach over
660,000 readers directly through subscription and controlled circulation. CMPi
has approximately 900 employees in the UK and Europe and in 2004 had revenues of
£159.3 million.
The Situation:
CMPi’s flagship office is Ludgate House, opened by the Rt Hon Margaret
Thatcher in 1989 and situated in the heart of London, overlooking the Thames.
The prestigious 200,000 m» building houses CMPi staff as well as staff from two
tenant companies, totalling approximately 2,000 employees.
When the building was first acquired by CMPi an access control system was
already in place however, some seventeen years later it was becoming obsolete.
With poor performance, instability and database crashes – often resulting in the
intensive administration exercise of reconfiguring and re-entering card details
– CMPi decided that an upgrade was required. Additionally, the existing system
was limited in the applications it provided and CMPi was keen to assess a smart
card solution and to take advantage of multi-application opportunities and
their associated business benefits.
As CMPi would be investing heavily into its new system, the process of
identifying the right solution was complex. CMPi appointed Gerry Taylor at TPS
Building Services Consultants to investigate the market and advise them on which
solution would best fit their needs. A solution design was produced based on the
functionality of the existing system and a couple of manufacturers whose systems
aligned with this design were selected. And, to determine the budgetary
requirements, an assessment was done based on the size of the building and the
total number of doors.
Additionally ISS Coflex, CMPi’s on-site Facilities Management organisation
was consulted. Coflex took the opportunity to visit other end-users to gain an
insight into how these solutions operated and the users’ level of satisfaction
with them.
“I was confident that the Honeywell WIN-PAK system was the best quality
and most efficient and flexible solution.”
Stephen Vause,
Buildings Manager at CMPi
The Solution:
Gerry Taylor at TPS developed a performance specification and engaged with
Minerva Integrated Security who chose Honeywell as their partner of choice to
provide the required solution.
In the meantime Stephen Vause, Buildings Manager for CMPi attended the Total
Workplace Management tradeshow where he visited the Honeywell stand and
identified WINPAK™, one of the solutions already being considered. Stephen says:
“We wanted to ensure that we got the best value and the most modern and robust
system available, that would meet our requirements and not limit us from day
one. After seeing a demo on the stand I was confident that the Honeywell WINPAK
system was the best quality and most efficient and flexible solution and, at a
later date, would enable us to scale out smart card functionality, such as
cashless vending, to our employees”.
The Implementation:
It was important to CMPi that any solution implemented was totally
future-proof, not only in the diversity of situations in which the cards could
be used but also in terms of future expansion within the building. In addition
the switch-over from the old to the new system had to happen seamlessly and with
minimal disruption to staff. To accommodate the implementation Minerva split the
building into four sections, installing a network backbone allowing
communication via IP to some areas whilst the remainder was connected directly
to the server. N1000 2 or 4 readers were installed at each of the building’s 120
doors and in the helpdesk office WIN-PAK Pro and a slave badging station and
printer were installed.
The administration of new staff access cards, although an arduous process,
was the ideal opportunity for CMPi to undertake a massive house-keeping
exercise, examining who was granted access where and during what time of the day
or night. A new badge was designed using WIN-PAK Pro’s badge design feature and,
over the course of four weeks, OmniClass cards were issued to all employees.
Minerva completed the implementation and commissioning of the system over a
weekend and, when staff came into Ludgate House the following Monday, Minerva
representatives were on-hand to ensure everything ran smoothly as well as
providing training to the CMPi’s onsite helpdesk and security staff.
Stephen Vause comments: “The implementation of the new system was seamless;
the Minerva team, particularly John Moran – Operations Director - has been
fantastic”.
The Benefits:
Whilst CMPi’s initial requirement was a reliable and robust system, the
additional benefits that have been reaped are enormous.
The WIN-PAK Pro system can be monitored remotely via the Internet which,
according to John Moran, gives additional confidence in the system: “The
Internet connectivity enables us to monitor the system remotely or run
diagnostic tests or reports meaning that we can identify potential problems
before they happen and administer the system remotely if required”.
The OmniClass smart cards can be programmed for multiple sites which means
that staff travelling between the company’s UK sites need only one card to allow
them access. The card is capable of storing and processing information and so it
has multiple uses from cashless vending, storing personal information, control
of access to restricted areas, keeping a record of accumulated points for
discount purchases and verifying authenticity. Whilst the new cards will
predominantly be used for access control, CMPi has scope for their wider use in
the future.
Since completing the installation of WINPAK, Minerva have implemented
Honeywell Fusion Digital Video Rercorders (DVRs) at two remote sites, enabling
security staff at Ludgate House to monitor and record remote images by means of
the HoneywellFusion Video Management Software (FVMS). A further Fusion DVR has
been installed at Ludgate House, facilitating the integration of CCTV
cameras with the WIN-PAK software. This gives CMPi an even greater level of
security and protection, recording images as well as enabling operations to
monitor alarms within the access control system and tying them in with CCTV
images.
And what do CMPi’s staff think of the new access control system? Stephen
responds: “I’m not sure that most of them have noticed! It’s been a bit of a
cultural change to them, learning to be responsible for their cards however, our
plans for cashless vending are only the tip of the iceberg so I think the real
benefits will be visible to them in the long term”.
Partner of Choice:
Minerva Integrated Security is the collaboration of a group of experienced
security professionals who had a vision of building an independent security
company providing the highest quality, and most cost effective security systems
for commercial premises across the UK and Europe. By embracing modern technology
it has become an innovative, customer focused company delivering superb products
and services that meet with its customers’ requirements, whilst ensuring maximum
economic value. With extensive experience across the Honeywell Security product
portfolio, it was natural that Minerva would select Honeywell as its partner of
choice.
CMP Information Case Study (PDF 922k)
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