Costa Rica's Judiciary Relies on Milestone Protection

Milestone XProtect open platform IP video management software (VMS) has been implemented in more than 30 government judicial buildings in Costa Rica. The new surveillance system is the foundation for defense against violence for judicial employees to be less vulnerable to the risk of attacks in the office.

With an increase in reported violent crimes throughout Costa Rica, the prosecution of more offenders has resulted in a correlated increase of threats directed toward judicial employees in government offices around the country. Controlling all legal matters in the Central American country, more than 10,000 employees work in 31 buildings ranging in size from 1,312 – 81,200 square feet. They had previously been left vulnerable with out-of-date analog surveillance systems.

To help protect the employees and property of the Costa Rica judicial system, the government agency has implemented a highly effective solution to control the entire video monitoring infrastructure with high image quality, reliability and the ability to integrate with technology from leading security manufacturers and suppliers. Milestone XProtect Enterprise VMS was implemented for a full-scale surveillance improvement throughout the nation's government buildings.

For the new system, two types of IP network cameras were installed: the SNC-RS86N pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) day/night outdoor rapid dome camera with 36x zoom capability and H.264 data compression, and the SNC-DH180 network 720p HD vandal-resistant, fixed mini-dome camera with view-DR technology and IR illuminator both manufactured by Sony.

Milestone XProtect Enterprise software operates through the Wide Area Network (WAN) of the organization to the monitoring centers with client stations, where administration and supervisors are located. Each building has its own local monitoring center running through a client station. In total, the system has around 30 operators.

"XProtect Enterprise has allowed government security personnel to perform intelligence work remotely, increasing the effectiveness of our human resources," states Carlos Solano, Project Development Manager at Sonivision, Costa Rica, the Milestone partner who implemented the solution.

The Milestone solution offers an advanced surveillance system with top-of-the-line technology and open architecture, providing coverage of all surveillance needs through managing high-resolution, high-definition IP cameras, which would not have been possible with analog technology. Milestone XProtect Enterprise can access the video in both real time and recorded information - simultaneously. 

"Milestone XProtect Enterprise has a very intuitive user interface that allows access to remote viewing of different points of interest simultaneously, as well as recordings. With the intelligent search tools we can look for evidence easily that can be quickly exported and used as evidence," stated German Rojas Monje, Security Director, Judiciary System of Costa Rica. "In addition to its powerful remote surveillance, the XProtect® Smart Client interface has improved our ability to view and record events that take place both inside and outside the buildings. This has improved security and allowed us to strengthen our position against possible threats."

When the first stage of implementation was finished, operators of the system and the IT personnel who provide technical support were trained in two stages: basic training for both types of users, and one focused solely on the IT personnel in recommended practices for maintaining the XProtect Enterprise software and Sony cameras.

Solano continued: "All of the end users are in agreement due to its graphic design and intuitive interface, it is a significant improvement for the government's security. Whether running through scheduled monitoring routines or exporting and generating video evidence, Milestone's ease of use is significantly more helpful in protecting those who serve in the justice department."

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.