Thales has developed a centralised solution to manage security at military sites. Harnessing the latest technologies and operated via an intuitive user interface, the Security Digital Platform enables operators to counter any type of threat and even anticipate threats that may arise in the future.
Protecting military sites is a bigger challenge than ever. Tools and techniques that were once the preserve of state actors — such as the use of drones, cyberattacks and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons — are now much more widely available. In the age of globalised terrorism, the homeland no longer provides a safe sanctuary in this complex and ever evolving threat environment.
The most likely dangers for a military base today are probably the theft of weapons or munitions and sabotage of communication systems. At a command headquarters, the biggest worry for security staff is the theft of sensitive information. And when it comes to defence, nothing can be left to chance.
To counter these threats, military sites are bristling with surveillance cameras and other sensors connected to devices of all kinds. These surveillance systems have proven to be an effective way of detecting or deterring intruders in particular.
But how do you monitor all these sensors and process the huge flows of data they generate? Thales sees centralised management as of this security ecosystem as an opportunity to offer even more effective protection for military sites.
Drawing on 20 years of experience in protecting sensitive sites, Thales has developed a Security Digital Platform to help security operators counter all types of threats and even anticipate threats that may arise in the future.
A unified and centralised security system
The Security Digital Platform is a smart system that uses the most advanced technologies — including big data analytics, artificial intelligence and facial recognition — to assist security operators at a sensitive site.
A three-screen display gives operators a comprehensive overview of security across the site. This digital supervision platform is connected to all the surveillance cameras and sensors deployed by Thales at the site and centralises all their data feed.
Operators can perform a whole range of operations on the platform:
- Ensure that site security equipment is operating correctly. This saves a huge amount of time for operators, who would otherwise have to physically inspect each sensor.
- Check that all security incidents are handled systematically and efficiently resolved.
- Manage alarms.
- Produce clear, detailed reports for site managers.
AI for more efficient alarm management
False alarms triggered by an ever expanding array of sensors is a weakness of security systems today. The Thales Security Digital Platform uses artificial intelligence to identify which alarms actually call for a response. This function alone offers security operators significant time savings.
The platform’s simple, intuitive interface can be used without any specialised knowledge or skills: all site security indicators are centralised on a dashboard, which means it only takes a few seconds to check that the system is operating correctly. If an incident occurs, support tools help operators make the right decision to counter the threat in real time.
Another key benefit of the system is its scalability and development headroom. A new threat can be taken into account quickly and simply just by updating the system software, helping keep costs under control.
Thales, a trusted partner
To develop a solution that fully meets military requirements, Thales drew on its in-depth understanding of defence organisations, based on decades of experience. But performance isn’t the system's only competitive advantage.
Thales teams provide customers with personalised support at all stages of their projects, from initial design to routine management of security operations after the system is delivered and installed. A support and maintenance service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
“Our defence expertise and our deep understanding of the issues the military faces make us a trusted partner for our customers,” says Laurent Letellier, product manager for Thales.
This claim is borne out by the commercial success of a solution that is currently protecting 190 military sites around the world, including the French Ministry of Defence’s Balard headquarters in Paris. Providing security for the ‘French Pentagon’, which brings together all staff headquarters departments at a single site, is an extraordinary undertaking. The surveillance system installed by Thales to meet this challenge makes it possible to:
- Centralise a vast array of different types of supervision and control systems (visitor access, videosurveillance, intrusion detection, etc.)
- Meet the site's maximum security requirements up to Top Secret level.
Thales will be ensuring the security of people and data at the Balard facility for the next 30 years.
The Security Digital Platform ensures that the armed forces have the highest level of protection at their bases. Importantly, it frees them from a whole set of routine tasks, enabling them to focus on their main duties. As such, it plays a crucial role in ensuring their own security and guaranteeing the safety of the populations they protect.