1. WHITE PAPER
SMART SECURITY ALERTS
USING YOUR CALL MANAGER
Parsec Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
348 Udyog Vihar Phase-II, Gurgaon-122016,India
Ph: +91-124-4502000, Fax: +91-124-4002503
Web : www.parsec-tech.com, Email : info@parsec-tech.com
2. Preface
This white paper is especially targeted towards enterprises and organizations which have already Call Manager
i.e. CUCM deployed in their premises.
With an additional modest investment, this initial wise investment can be very effectively leveraged to use the
power of your IP communication infrastructure to be able to set up a highly responsive and flexible security
alert system in your organization.
Security Today
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In India today, physical security and disasters mitigation plans have become
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absolutely necessary- especially in the metros which have been recently been in the
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radar of trouble-makers, Corporates and large organizations need to have a
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security system which is dependable and is able to send the right information, with
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a high degree of accuracy in a way that is fail safe and yet does not cause an undue
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alarm or disorderly evacuation. Also it is important to have the ability to have a
calibrated or tiered alert system-not a system which just sends a loud siren off.
So the system should be such that RIGHT information should reach the RIGHT
people in the RIGHT TIME with the RIGHT level of alert escalation along with the RIGHT mitigation
advice/plans.
10 Essentials Of A Smart Security Alert Communication System
1. System Availability: It should continue to work in an emergency /disaster environment (remember your
GSM traffic gets choked up at the 1st whiff of disaster or alarm-just when you want it! Also GSM don’t work in
basements and blind spots).
2. Quick Delivery: It should have quick delivery – from the first alert to reaching the message across to the
chosen/all employees should not take more than a few seconds.
3. Multi-Lingual: The messages-text and voice- should be multi-lingual- particularly when there are blue
collared workers in your organization.
4. Multi-Mode: Such broadcast message should be available simultaneously on PCs, IP phones and mobiles-
even blackberry.
5. Bulk Instantaneous Delivery: It should have mass/bulk message delivery capacity. It should have also
reliable delivery- anything less than 99% message delivery is obviously in-adequate.
6. Selective Delivery: It should have selective delivery capacity-you do
not want to create panic across all buildings where maybe only a few
buildings need mass or orderly evacuation.
7. Method Of Delivery: It should be not be loud and create general panic.
8.MITIGATION PLAN: An alert it self is insufficient without follow up
instructions and orderly execution. In other words Alerts should always be
accompanied by exit plans and instructions.
3. 9. Reach Across Enterprise : It should reach all places, not only office
desks but also the lift man, the basement car park etc.
10. Overrides : It should over-ride normal phone communication
during the broadcast.
All these functionalities can be delivered by your Cisco UC system! It
would require modest upgrades in loading applications and also some
system integration (integration with SMS etc) .
Now lets compare the various alert communication systems that you have at your disposal.
Solutions Available
Capability Reliability Speed of Accuracy of Pre-Configured Help Multi-Lingual Select
Delivery Deliverability Messages Notices, Message And Delivery
g
Exit Plans Help Advises
Mode of Delivery And Plan
i Delivery
SMS Delivery First to fail Quick Often SMS get Possible Not possible Cumbersome Possible
(Through PC) in case of delivery not lost if delivered
network possible in bulk.
traffic when there
is high
traffic
PA System Reliable as it Fast Fast Only pre- Not possible Only voice advise- Possible but
is a separate recorded voice no map or exit noise can
add on can be played – plans carry
system with no text shrillness and
wiring and volume quality
all. changes
according to
distance.
Office Email Reliable in Not always Accurate Possible Possible Possible Possible
delivery, but quick
view not enough
guaranteed.
Office EPABX & Reliable Back to back Accurate Not Possible Not possible Not possible Individual
Normal TDM Phones calling. phoning up
Highly time
consuming
CUCM with IPTs Through Automated Highly accurate Sample Can be made Help notices can Simple drop
office LAN- delivery- messages can be available on be made available down menu
so secure preconfigure pre-written and each IPT in English and selection of
delivery and d messages flashed across screen regional department,
no can speeden saving valuable languages wings or floors
congestion up things time make select
delivery fast
and accurate
Solution Outline
Feature Benefit
Preconfigured messages can be sent Immediate message delivery- just select and click and there can
by admin be instant delivery across the organization
Hoot and shout feature Messages can be accompanied with hooter buzz or light indication
or both or none depending upon the type of escalation-ensuring
that the right amount of flagging is done depending upon the
severity. So it does not have the loudness and disruptive quality
of a PA announcement but is not as un-obtrusive and silent as an
email –best part is this wide array of configuration option makes
it a handy broadcast tool