Securcom Secures Polaris Data Centre With Gallagher

Securcom Secures Polaris Data Centre With Gallagher Security C7000 And Command Centre.

Securcom Secures Polaris Data Centre With Gallagher – Securcom has upgraded security at Queensland’s Polaris Data Centre with Gallagher Command Centre, access control, visitor management and a Class 5 high-security alarm system, integrating facial recognition, turnstiles, key management and video surveillance.

Commissioned in 2009, Polaris Data Centre provides secure wholesale and retail colocation services from its Springfield facility. Designed to exceed Tier III requirements, the facility’s N+2 capability allows critical power, cooling and infrastructure systems to be maintained while retaining full redundancy.

Peter Blunt, chief commercial officer at Polaris, has worked in the Australian data centre industry for 20 years and oversees the facility’s daily operations and relationships with customers across government, financial services and other regulated industries.

“As a data centre operator, security is critically important to our customers,” Blunt said.

“Whatever we implement needs to stand up to the scrutiny of government agencies, financial institutions and other organisations with very stringent security requirements.”

Implementing A New Security Platform

Polaris needed to replace its ageing security platform with a capable, future-proof solution that could meet the rigorous security and compliance requirements of its customers. While the existing system remained compliant, ageing hardware, concerns over long-term support and increasingly complex operational requirements were making it harder to manage.

Duplicated processes, multiple data entry points and manual workarounds added to the administrative burden. Polaris wanted to centralise security management, simplify workflows and establish a single source of information for access control, compliance and customer reporting.

"We found the existing system required a lot more effort than it should have,” said Blunt. “It met our requirements and always remained compliant, but we found significant duplication and a few workarounds required to achieve the outcomes we needed. We wanted a platform that would improve workflows and make compliance easier to manage.”

The replacement also needed to support customer-specific compliance requirements, integrate with existing and future technologies and provide strong cybersecurity. Ease of use was particularly important in an environment where experienced security personnel and occasional users needed to operate the same system.

“We wanted an intuitive and user-friendly platform that could be operated confidently by both experienced security personnel and staff who may only use the system occasionally,” Blunt explains.

“For us, simplifying day-to-day interactions with the platform was a critical step towards reducing potential human error and improving consistency.”

Polaris selected Gallagher's security platform, delivered in partnership with Securcom, after a detailed evaluation.

As part of the decision-making process, Polaris examined Gallagher deployments in other high-security facilities before committing to the platform.

“We knew we weren't the only organisation relying on Gallagher for critical security functions, and that gave us added confidence in both the technology and its suitability for our environment,” Blunt said.

Pedro De Jesus, Gallagher security sales manager for Queensland and Papua New Guinea, worked with Gallagher channel partner Securcom to plan and deploy the new system.

The solution includes Gallagher Command Centre, access control, visitor management and a Class 5 High Sec Alarm System, integrated with IDEMIA facial recognition, turnstiles, key cabinet management and the Milestone video management system.

According to Saulo Barbosa, business development manager at Securcom, the integrated solution addresses Polaris' operational and compliance requirements.

“Together, these solutions created a security environment capable of supporting both operational efficiency and compliance requirements,” Barbosa said.

“From the outset, the Gallagher platform stood out because of its ease of use and flexibility. The ability to manage multiple security functions through a centralised platform aligned closely with Polaris' vision of creating a more streamlined and intuitive operating environment.

“Equally important was Gallagher's proven track record in high-security facilities and critical infrastructure environments. Strong cybersecurity credentials and extensive certification provided confidence that the platform could meet the expectations of both Polaris and its customers.”

According to Barbosa, Gallagher's High Sec Alarm System gives the Securcom team confidence in the security of Polaris' facility.

“Certified to the AS/NZS 2201 Class 5 standard, it provides a robust, independently certified security solution that supports Polaris in meeting the security and compliance expectations of its government and enterprise customers,” Barbosa said.

Gallagher's High Sec Alarm System and T-Series Readers provide end-to-end authentication and encryption. The system continuously monitors End of Line Modules (ELMs) within sensors and verifies communications with the Gallagher High Sec Controller, allowing disruption or tampering to be detected immediately.

Delivering During A Live Cutover

Implementation of the new solution required a live migration across all 5 levels of the data centre without interrupting operations or compromising security.

“As a 24/7 operational data centre, Polaris could not afford downtime or disruption to customers or security processes,” De Jesus said.

“The migration had to be completed while the facility remained fully operational requiring a carefully planned live cutover with both old and new systems operating in parallel throughout the transition period. Achieving this required close coordination between Polaris, Gallagher, and Securcom, as well as detailed planning and risk management.

The migration was completed without operational disruption or the need to deploy additional security personnel.

"It was done absolutely faultlessly,” Blunt said. “We had contingency plans in place and were prepared to bring in additional security resources, like security guards, if required, but we never needed them. The project was delivered efficiently, securely, and without disruption to operations.”

Security For The Future

Since implementation, Blunt said Polaris has reduced the administrative effort associated with day-to-day security management by eliminating duplicated processes and consolidating functions within a single platform.

Improved workflows have also reduced opportunities for human error, while giving staff easier access to information and simplifying routine security tasks.

“As a data centre serving highly regulated organisations, the security environment forms a highly visible part of the customer experience,” Blunt said.

“By implementing a modern, highly reliable solution, Polaris has strengthened customer confidence while reinforcing its reputation as a trusted provider of critical infrastructure services.

"Having a solid and reliable system with an intuitive user experience says something about the quality of the broader service we provide.”

Polaris has already expanded its new Gallagher system to meet the requirements of a customer seeking more advanced access control within its tenancy.

“The ability to deliver that enhancement quickly and cost-effectively demonstrated the Gallagher system’s flexibility and scalability,” Blunt said.

The project has also established a platform for further security upgrades as customer requirements evolve.

"The Gallagher solution came highly recommended and it has absolutely met our expectations,” Blunt said.

“Most importantly, it felt like a genuine partnership between Polaris, Gallagher Security and Securcom, and that was critical to the success of the project.”

You can learn more about Gallagher Security here, discover Securcom here or read more SEN news here.

“Securcom Secures Polaris Data Centre With Gallagher Security C7000 And Command Centre.”