SECURITY IN VENDING


it has never been more important to shine a spotlight on vending machine security, but don’t lose sight of the basics. Modern technology, of course, makes it easier to keep vending


Housing makes the best deterrent V


ending machines hold varying amounts of cash, potentially valuable products and also sensitive customer banking information particularly in the modern age. For this reason


machines safe through remote monitoring and control with instant alerts about security breaches offering an important level of security. However, the most basic but highly effective and preventative


form of security for vending equipment is the housing, particularly if it is a purpose-built housing. A bank of vending machines can run into the tens of thousands, so who wouldn’t want to ensure they can’t be vandalised or compromised? It’s not just the impact on the capital cost, but the knock-on effect of downtime, maintenance call-out fees, equipment replacement and of course revenue. Nebrak’s ‘Operandi’ traditional vending surround, for example, was developed to secure machines. Paul Howard, Nebrak’s managing director, designed Operandi to conquer ‘walking’, where vending machines move from usage and become vulnerable. As the surround is constructed from robust aluminium posts, it also stops the machines from being tilted or compromised in any way. “In our eyes, prevention is better than cure, housing your vending is not only more aesthetically pleasing, it also serves as a valuable security measure too,” Paul said.


Security locked in


In vending, security is a critical issue which has far-reaching consequences. Unreliable locking solutions can compromise security, resulting in lost product, money and ultimately, profit. As a result, many operators are turning to access control and electronic latching systems to increase security and visibility into machine access. A challenge faced by many operators is key management. Lost keys not only compromise security but cause significant disruption to operators, and impact financially as replacing keys, or the entire lock, is a cost which quickly accumulates. Access control systems allow vending machines to be accessed via various credential methods such as card, key pad, mobile and remote access, which act as a virtual key, allowing machine entry to be monitored and analysed.


Pairing access control systems with a good quality electronic latch is essential for increased security. Ensuring that the lock is correctly installed and can withstand repeated, long-term use, forced entry and any pre-load challenges, will further add to the overall security. With the addition of a capacitor board, locks can be set to failed safe, which keeps doors closed in the event of a power outage. With this in mind, new innovations are giving users the visibility into machine access which mechanical locking cannot. Using cloud-based technology, such systems incorporate a portal as a powerful central control point which controls access rights that are at the heart of administration and security. User access can be revoked instantaneously, and data can be gathered to form user and lock specific reports, which can be used to spot trends and highlight problems for process improvement.


An example of such a sytem is Camlock


Systems’ ACS-100 which can be integrated and retrofitted into existing machines and each solution can be carefully designed and tailored to individual needs using a range of electronic latching and hardware.


vendinginternational-online.com |


19


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28