woman using mobile phone to unlock door

CGS-CIMB Case Study: Mobile Access for Financial Services

There is a direct correlation between reputation and customer trust in financial services. Reputation management today goes beyond the right customer service. The FinServ sector must consider the protection of physical and digital assets and data to manage risks. When security measures for customers and employees are seamless, adoption rates are higher, making threat protections stronger. Financial institutions require a layered approach, including physical access security.

What Is Physical Access Security?

Physical access security — otherwise known as physical access control solutions (PACS) — is the use of hardware, software and credential components to create controlled access at entry points such as exterior building doors and internal doors to restricted environments such as teller desks and server rooms. Hardware components consist of the access control card reader system and the controllers that authenticate the credentials presented to the reader and open the door.

Modern physical access control includes solutions such as mobile access allow individuals to use their smartphone as their credential. Mobile access solutions have native touchless functionality to increase safety in addition to creating a frictionless experience that maximizes security.

Why Is Physical Access Security Important for Financial Institutions?

Financial institutions must meet a high bar when it comes to physical access security. Managing the risk of both physical and cyber breaches requires upgrading from legacy systems to modern access control technology to create strong security for physical spaces. This strong physical security then boosts network security by acting as a first line of defense for outside security threats, as well as insider threats. Simply put, the FinServ sector needs to meet any possible security breach with robust resistance while striking the balance between usability, experience and security to meet risk management and regulatory compliance needs.

CGS-CIMB Singapore: A Case Study in Mobile Access Control for Financial Institutions

One of the leading integrated financial service providers in Asia, CGS-CIMB Securities International Pte. Ltd. (CGS-CIMB) has a global presence in more than 20 countries. With more than 2,000 employees globally, CGS-CIMB is the leading brokerage firm in Singapore with the number one market share on the Singapore Exchange. CGS-CIMB is also the most awarded broker in ASEAN with 59 Asiamoney awards in 2021 and multiple best institutional brokerage awards, including for its business in Singapore.

CGS-CIMB adopted the motto “PACE” that is an acronym for People-Centricity, Accountability, Collaboration and Excellence, and seeks to enhance a culture that embraces accountability to all its stakeholders, including staff, shareholders, clients, communities, government and regulatory agencies, and various business counterparties.

There is an expectation from all of our stakeholders to perform our respective duties with exemplary standards. Access control is an important aspect, and it is expected to surpass our IT security requirements to safeguard our responsibility to our stakeholders

— Malcolm Koo, Deputy CEO, CGS-CIMB Singapore.

Security was one of the most important aspects of CGS-CIMB’s move into its new offices in Tower 2 of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, a 50-story office tower in downtown Singapore that is home to some of the world’s top multinational institutions. A longtime HID customer, CGS-CIMB was pleased with its physical access security and the consistent demonstration of good security governance that met the needs and requirements for regulated industries, such as financial services. The move to the new offices presented the need to upgrade to modern physical access control technology and conduct the comprehensive security audit needed to do so.

Integrating HID Mobile Access® Into the Existing Building Application, Habitap ONE

One requirement for CGS-CIMB’s access control system was that it utilize the Marina Bay Financial Centre mobile application provided by Habitap, an HID technology partner. This meant CGS-CIMB would need to adopt a mobile solution for its own access control. Following a comprehensive security audit by CGS-CIMB’s IT Security and Governance Team, CGS-CIMB ultimately selected the Habitap ONE Access-as-a-Service solution that integrates seamlessly with Habitap to provide secure access to the main building.

How CGS-CIMB Implemented Its Mobile Access Solution

The CGS-CIMB mobile access solution included the highly adaptable HID iCLASS SE® R10 readers, supported by the HID OMNIKEY® 5127CK chip card interface device and keyboard wedge reader board. These enable CGS-CIMB to issue secure mobile credentials to any device utilizing HID’s Seos® credential technology, which can then be provisioned or de-provisioned remotely. Door access is secured by highly configurable HID Aero™ X1100 intelligent controllers and HID Aero X100 input monitor interface modules, providing platform security with sophisticated threat detection.

The Benefits of Mobile Access for CGS-CIMB Employees

Currently, 500 employees are using the Habitap ONE app with the HID Mobile Access integration at CGS-CIMB’s Singapore location, which includes Smart Intercom for guest calls and Digital Name Card for identification. By transitioning to HID Mobile Access to manage access within its office and secure rooms on two floors, as well as to provide logical access to shared printers and staff lockers, CGS-CIMB employees benefit from the convenience, speed, and safety of over-the-air activation of mobile access cards with native touchless functionality. Among the most notable benefits of the company’s transition to HID Mobile Access are the solution’s ability to meet its stringent security requirements while streamlining access through a single, mobile credential. Habitap ONE has made the use of multiple access cards redundant, while maintaining stringent security standards and helping to create a future-ready security posture as needs and technology evolve.

Good planning by all stakeholders resulted in a smooth implementation and user adoption has been positive.

— Malcolm Koo, Deputy CEO, CGS-CIMB Singapore.

Learn More About Mobile Access Control in FinServ Environments

The CGS-CIMB case study unpacks the pillars underpinning the investment firm’s security strategy. Explore how CGS-CIMB brought its security and user experience ambitions to reality and download your copy of the case study. You can also get additional insights into the benefits of modern PACS technology in the eBook, Four Ways Modernizing Physical Access Control Promotes Strong Network Security.

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