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ATMIA launches new effort to boost ATM security

January 19, 2003

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- The ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) is launching a program called Operation Sword and Shield. According to Mike Lee, ATMIA's international director, the program is part of a drive to tighten up ATM security worldwide in 2003.

According to a news release, the program kicks off this March in the United States with the introduction of an ATM security workshop series, similar to a series that has been conducted for two years in the UK. The 2002 UK event attracted delegates from 17 countries.

The workshop, "ATM Sec America," will take place prior to the opening of ATMIA's  international conference, "ATMs in the Americas," at the Hyatt Regency in Miami March 4-7. The conference is co-sponsored by NYCE Corporation.

The first "ATM Sec" event in the UK led directly to the creation of the ATM Security Working Group, which contributed toward a reduction of nearly 20 percent in attacks on convenience ATMs in the UK in 2002 when compared to 2001.

Alan Townsend, crime prevention coordinator of the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad at New Scotland Yard and the working group's chairman, will give the keynote address at "ATM Sec America," about the importance of establishing a national ATM crime database in the U.S.

Bruce Sussman, the director of Internal Audit for NYCE Corporation, will speak on ATM network security in the U.S. Also on the schedule: a representative from CardAlert Operations, who will talk about risk management; Mike Hudson, chairman of the ATM Integrity Task Force, who will give an update on that group's progress; and Lana Harmelink, ATMIA's director of operations, who will discuss the Best Practice Committee formed in America to tighten up ATM standards and procedures.

Other topics covered in the workshop will include securing payment transactions using biometrics, the manufacturer's perspective on dealing with the costs of security measures and the security of smart cards compared to magnetic stripe cards.

Lee will facilitate the creation of an ATM Security Forum in Australia in February with the help of Cashcard Australia and the head of the NSW Fraud Squad, Detective Inspector Megan McGowan. Similar ATMIA security initiatives will follow in South Africa and Latin America.

Meanwhile, 2003 will be the second year in which Global ATM Security awards will be presented in the following three categories: ATM Security Technology, ATM Security Best Practice and Best Contribution to ATM Crime Reduction and Prevention.

According to the release, all aspects of ATM security are considered for the awards: physical security, cash security, data and electronic security, network security and card security.

Last year's winners can be seen on the Honor Roll under Industry Issues on any of the ATMIA chapter Web sites.

To enter this year's awards, send an application or nomination no later than Sept. 12 to mike@atmia.com. Nominations must include a motivation of 500 to 1,000 words giving the reasons why a company or individual should be considered worthy of recognition for exceptional work in any of the three categories covered by the awards.

All entrants will be evaluated by an international panel of independent judges. The 2003 ATM Security Awards will be presented in London at "ATM Sec 03," Oct. 13-14 at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel.

As an additional part of its ATM security drive in 2003, ATMIA will continue to develop its white paper on Best Practice along the whole ATM lifecycle. 

Those who wish to share feedback with its author, ATMIA member Lachlan Gunn, may e-mail him at benalpin@yahoo.co.uk

ATMIA also recognizes the steps taken to enhance ATM security in its international insurance program, directed by Mark Coons by lowering premium rates for those who take measures taken to bolster security.

"The ATM industry needs both a sword and a shield against criminals and fraudsters to win this battle," said Lyle Elias, ATMIA president. "The shield is provided by security devices, technologies and systems, right down to employing Best Practice procedures. The sword is the collective will of the industry to collaborate and share massive resources, such as setting up national and international databases of information which can be used proactively by law enforcement agencies around the world."

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ATM Industry Association (ATMIA)

The ATM Industry Association, founded in 1997, is a global non-profit trade association with over 10,500 members in 65 countries. The membership base covers the full range of this worldwide industry comprising over 2.2 million installed ATMs.

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