Case Study : Arkessa safeguards prison with secure network

It’s frequently said that any security system is only as good as its weakest link. Extra measures, therefore, are often required when the normal routines at a secure site are interrupted. This was the case when Arkessa stepped in to help safeguard one of Her Majesty’s Prisons while major construction work was underway.

The core role of HM Prison Service is to protect the public by holding prisoners securely in custody. Security is the bedrock on which its efforts to develop positive regimes are based and the organisation strives continually to improve and maintain its security record.

To ensure that security remained uncompromised during the construction of a new wing at an established prison the building contractor invited Arkessa to prescribe the solution to connect security systems at a temporary entrance to the prison.

During construction, the entrance would be in constant use by builders, contractors and a variety of personnel. It was vital at all times to validate each individual’s identity to minimize risk and to ensure that only authorized personnel were granted access.

An identity scanner was installed at the temporary entrance to monitor everyone entering and leaving the construction site. To create a secure channel for remote authorization and managed access, the scanner had to be connected to a PC-based control centre. This was housed near double security gates in a steel building elsewhere on the prison compound. A connection also had to be made to the main server in the construction office, located about half a mile away on another part of the site.

Working quickly to overcome a number of technical challenges, Arkessa set up a secure private network connection to link the ID scanner with the PC control centre. A 3G router was installed at both ends and a virtual private network (VPN) was set up between them so that the native IP subnets of the existing network could be used.

Using the Arkessa 3G network meant that a peer-to-peer connection could be built through the Arkessa’s Centre for Remote Internet using private static IP addresses. And taking this approach ensured that the public internet was not used at all. This was a critical consideration in a high security environment.

There had been some concerns about signal strength in the steel building but an external antenna took care of reception. Throughout the installation, the Arkessa team worked closely with the contractor’s IT staff to ensure they would be able to provide ongoing support to guarantee the smooth day-to-day operation of the system.

Arkessa provided secure static IP addresses. The customer was given direct control of the connection via a range of tools including the Arkessa Command Centre, which enables the operating parameters of the connection to be monitored and set in real time.

Arkessa’s solution was deployed successfully at very short notice. With extensive experience and expertise in the delivery of highly secure 3G mobile networking services and remote management solutions, Arkessa was well placed to deliver the technical expertise and support required to help protect the HM Prisons site while construction work was in progress.

The application demonstrates how Arkessa can be trusted by the most security-conscious organizations to assess risk, devise a solution, resolve networking problems and deploy remote equipment, quickly, securely and cost-effectively.

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