How Niscayah supplied BT Global Services with a platform to connect their security systems worldwide.
Background
BT Global Services is a global service provider helping multi-site organizations master the complexity of business communication. BT has an extensive global presence in order to support international and multinational organizations. BT Global Services offers local access to business, technology, service and support professionals in 70 countries.
Client’s challenge
“The majority of the countries BT is active in have organized security matters independently in the past,” says Bert Middelkoop, Global Head of Physical Security & Continuity. “As a result, every country has its own security system. Therefore I can’t verify from Holland whether or not Frankfurt receives a lot of false alarms. This has got to change. A second issue is that we want our security guards to work more efficiently. To enable this, we also need a system. This is where the Niscayah’ Sky-Walker fits in"!
How we helped
Van Middelkoop was searching for the right partner, but didn’t find what he was looking for initially. “Every hardware supplier can provide us with software systems. But we made a choice not to deal with companies that supply hardware as well as every other service, such as access control and alarm detection which must be connected to their own software system. In doing so we would be obligated to deal with one company for all adjustments and deliveries. We prefer to have the option of choosing from a few players. Niscayah offers software that is able to function independently of its surrounding systems”. “This is Sky-Walker’s strength” explains Pim Schutter, Business Unit Manager Telecom & Energy at Niscayah. “The system is hardware-independent”. BT can connect any installation. This applies to security installations as well as to lighting and air-conditioning systems. “Sky-Walker offers endless possibilities”, says Van Middelkoop. “This system enables a security guard in New York to operate a door in Singapore”, he says. “Systems with endless possibilities are often very complicated, but Sky-Walker retains simplicity. Any need a guard may have can be met with precision and in his or her own language”.
One of the reasons BT chose Sky-Walker was the international presence of Niscayah. “Just like us, Niscayah is a international player and is active in countries where we have operations as well,” according to Van Middelkoop. “Besides, I like the fact that I can work with a single contact person in Holland. The fact that Niscayah was the only organization able to prove that their system worked in a larger configuration helped us in deciding to choose them”. Niscayah invited BT to take a look at various companies throughout Holland and Belgium, which use Sky-Walker on many sites. “It’s been working perfectly for years”, according to Pim Schutter.
The results
The new BT premises in Amsterdam will be the first to start operating Sky-Walker, followed by Paris and Frankfurt. Niscayah is acquainted with these security measures: They installed all security equipment such as; access control, alarm verification and video surveillance systems for the brand new office in Amsterdam. “As soon as the new offices are connected to one another, I will introduce the system in the countries where it can be most cost effective”, says Van Middelkoop. ”With technical help, I’ll try to organize the guards as efficiently as possible, because that is what the future holds for us”. Niscayah has the knowledge and the experience to think along with us. “The fact that Niscayah works closely together with us, is a plus”, says Van Middelkoop. “But basically I’m very careful with outsourcing. Our customers rely on us to transport data as securely as possible. We have one of the best networks in the world. Internal security is of great importance to us. This is why the standard of what I can and what I want to outsource, is high. But so far we have had good experiences with Niscayah, so I am saying, never say never."