By Steve Spatig, Southco Inc.

While the self-service industry offers many benefits to consumers, its unattended nature also opens businesses up to threats and security breaches. The lack of face-to-face contact presents security challenges when it comes to protecting money and sensitive data, tracking equipment access, skimming and shrinkage issues and vandalism.

ATMs, vending machines and kiosks need the most rugged and reliable security in order to function at their highest potential. The hardware components that control access to these enclosures can be just as important to physical security as the software used to track and measure metrics.

New materials and manufacturing techniques have replaced conventional cylinder locks and transformed latches, hinges, handles and levers from purely functional elements to devices that can actually enhance an enclosure's operation and physical security. Further, today's advancements in positioning technology can greatly improve precision and user experience with self-service equipment.

Hardware must contribute to security by reducing opportunities for vandalism and theft. Internal and flush-mounted hardware helps eliminate pry points. Today's innovative hardware can resist damage from vandals' favorite tools, including screwdrivers, cat's paws, scrapers and pry bars, to name a few.

Enclosures are most vulnerable during regular replenishment and repairs. Improving the way service personnel and maintenance technicians interact with an enclosure can shorten the time that it is open, and thus reduce security risks.

For example, some gasketed latches and handles can satisfy NEMA 4 and IP-65 standards for protecting the unit against water and dust penetration. Less water and dust means fewer service calls and, thus, fewer chances for security breaches.

Detent hinges are used to hold various access panels, doors and cover plates in either a fully open or fully closed position and prevent any unwanted movement while being accessed. Constant-torque position-control hinges, on the other hand, hold securely at any desired position on the operational arc. Both of these specialty hinges allow service technicians to work without having to hold panels open. For outdoor systems, it means that panels will remain open in windy conditions. On indoor systems, these hinges will keep panels open even if the enclosure is off kilter or the slab is not level.

In addition to advanced mechanical hardware solutions, electronic access systems (EAS) are becoming more commonplace in the self-service sector as well. EAS are no longer just locks and latches that simply provide barriers. They are intelligent components linked to the system's software that can provide advanced functionality. These devices can control access to the enclosures by service and maintenance personnel and provide audit trails to document all of the service activity. With this kind of intelligence, owners can manage their self-service systems more efficiently, and it can even be done remotely.

The heart of the most robust electronic access systems is a reliable, electromechanical lock or latch (EML). Today's EMLs are robust, vandal-resistant devices with built-in intelligence and mechanical override options. For example, in a kiosk that "rents" chargers for electronic devices, the EML responds to the consumer's purchase request, unlocking a specific "locker" compartment. It also knows to secure the compartment door when the consumer retrieves their fully-charged device and shuts the door.

After selecting the most appropriate EML, engineers should select suitable access control devices for their specific application. The human interface is an important component because it controls the way both customers and service personnel interact with the self-service system. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of access-control devices available — from simple standalone keypads to radio frequency (RF) remote-control systems and sophisticated biometric readers.

Designers of self-service systems should give careful consideration to hardware that controls and affects access to the enclosure. Attention to these details can provide owners with a greater return on an investment through improved control, increased functionality and reduced asset loss.

Steve Spatig is the general manager for Southco's EAS division. He has worked in the electronics packaging and engineered access industry for 15 years and holds three patents for mechanical access solutions.

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