IP Video Surveillance and Fabric-Based Networks

With large crowds flowing in and out every hour of every day and with money changing hands rapidly, the complexity and fast-paced environment of casinos makes security a challenging, high-stakes game. Add in the fact that organizations are in place (i.e. gaming commissions) to ensure that the incredibly strict regulations of the casino’s operations are met.

One key security component of every casino and gaming facility is the property’s security surveillance system. Surveillance systems are essential in supporting the smooth and safe operations of the property, and are valuable assets should an incident actually occur on the property.

Casinos and Their Video Surveillance Systems are Undergoing a Major Digital Transformation

What does this mean? Casinos’ security divisions are switching from traditional, analog-based video surveillance systems to digital, IP-based video surveillance systems. Why, what are the benefits?

Scalability

Casinos and gaming facilities are constantly expanding the physical footprint of their properties. This may be to add additional gaming spaces, but oftentimes these expansions also include non-gaming spaces like hotel rooms, conference spaces, entertainment, restaurants, and retail (to name a few). A digital surveillance and management system built on an open platform that can easily integrate with existing equipment delivers the flexibility to scale as the needs of the business and the property grow.

Efficiency

IP-based surveillance systems deliver greater functionality and quality, which may seem more expensive compared to analog-based systems, but the long-term return on the investment justifies the cost. This is because IP security systems dramatically improve operational efficiency. Rather than solely relying on human operators and monitoring – which are slow, inefficient, and prone to error - IP security systems are built to leverage automation and artificial intelligence to offload and optimize the manual workflow required for traditional security systems. This improves preventative security measures, day-to-day monitoring, and the review of footage after an incident occurs.

Higher-Quality Image

Gaming regulatory boards require casinos and gaming facilities to have access to high-quality video across their property. This includes challenging locations with poor lighting or potential obstructions. With the technological advances in digital security cameras and sensors, the image quality included in digital cameras is far superior compared to analog-based security technology, and has the ability to deliver a clear, improved view of an area regardless of the conditions. Not to mention digital surveillance systems are encrypted and transmitted back to the central monitoring hub quickly.

Storage

Another critical regulatory requirement of casino and gaming facilities is their retention of historical security footage. An upgraded digital surveillance system allows businesses to implement a storage system that is much more effective for the needs of the business. Not only do digital systems increase the capacity of the storage system, it delivers the ability to easily search and access previously-recorded footage from any time and any location on the property in an intuitive, prompt manner.

For all its benefits, an IP-based video surveillance system comes with specific IT and network requirements to ensure the system is fully supported and enabled, an intimidating task, as many hospitality properties are hindered by their existing infrastructure.

The Best Bet to Cash-In On: IP-Based Video Surveillance?

Extreme’s Fabric Connect is an unparalleled solution that eliminates network inefficiencies, vulnerabilities, and outages common in static and complex IP networks.

Fabric Connect is a simple, secure, dynamic, resilient networking solution. It meets all the business needs and regulatory requirements for a casino or gaming facility to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot a digital security surveillance system:

Multicast Support

The design, deployment, and troubleshooting of IP networks can require numerous protocols which must be managed and configured individually. This is especially true for IP multicast routing; casino and hospitality networks generally have many multicast applications (like video surveillance, digital signage and advertising, etc.). Fabric Connect simplifies these complexities, eliminating network-wide provisioning practices and substituting them with simple end point provisioning with one or two lines of command, enabling IP unicast and multicast routing with greater ease, scale, and resiliency.

Enhanced Security with Hyper-segmentation

This functionality prevents lateral movements creating dead ends for hackers or cybersecurity threats. With hyper-segmentation, only the network end-points are configured, creating secure isolated zones across the entire network, to only support a specific function or system like a video surveillance system.

Enhanced Security with Stealth Networking

Another benefit of hyper-segmentation, the network topology is completely hidden and unreachable to the vulnerabilities of Internet Protocol (IP). Meaning if a breach does occur it’s contained and doesn’t result in more critical problems. Other solutions use firewalls to prevent data access, but Fabric Connect segments traffic rendering it invisible as it traverses the network.

Improve Resiliency and Flexibility

Fabric Connect eliminates gaps in video streams by delivering unparalleled recoveries from network outages. A traditional IP network make take up to a few minutes to recover from an outage or breach, where Fabric Connect network recovery is 2500X faster, restoring in a matter of milliseconds – this includes L2, L3, and multicast. This reduces risk of outages during a changeover, but it also allows a video surveillance network to be deployed faster and easier than ever before; properties can easily add, move, and change cameras on the fly.