Canadian airport deploys Quantum Secure’s SAFE software

Feb. 4, 2009
Toronto Pearson International Airport reduces wait time for credentialing by 96 percent

San Jose, Calif., Feb. 3, 2009 – Quantum Secure today announced it has deployed its SAFE software suite for Toronto Pearson International Airport, the busiest airport in Canada.

Since initiating the use of SAFE for its identity management and access control security systems, Toronto Pearson has already realized reductions in credentialing processing time, along with related cost savings. Based on these preliminary results, the airport expects it will meet the following by the end of the first quarter 2009:

  • Average cost per customer from $49 to $35, a 28% savings
  • Average wait times from 560 minutes to 20 minutes, a 96% reduction
  • Average service time from 74 minutes to 25 minutes, a 66% decrease

Quantum Secure is the exclusive provider of enterprise software to manage and streamline security identities, compliance and events across disparate physical security systems. It counts some of the world’s largest, busiest and most secure airports among its clients.

Toronto Pearson, under governance by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), handles 30 million passengers per year, employs more than 33,000 people and is an important economic engine for Toronto and all of Southern Ontario. The airport’s Pass/Permit Control Office (PPCO), which issues restricted area identification/access control cards and passes for employees, was in need of technological answer to the many challenges involved in the time-intensive process.

Bryan Scott, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority’s senior manager of security infrastructures, was also looking to overhaul the system to improve efficiencies, service and operations, as well as reduce costs.

Scott said: "The PPCO serves an average of 175 clients per day and more than 45,000 employees and contractors each year for a wide variety of pass/permit requests. We needed a system that could keep up with this demand, ensuring that important staff started work in a timely fashion while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction."

After an extensive RFP process, the GTAA selected Deloitte Canada as its systems integrator and Quantum Secure’s SAFE as a customizable software solution that could accomplish these tasks—without having to replace the whole system.

"Because every employee of every airline, shop, food vendor, contractor and consultant working at Toronto Pearson—as well as airport employees themselves— must be processed by the PPCO, this function is critical for the economic vitality, operation and security of the airport," said Andre Romanovskiy, Deloitte senior manager of security and privacy services.

The SAFE suite of software enabled Toronto Pearson to incorporate its existing, fragmented physical security processes and systems into a larger IT infrastructure, automating many of the previously physical, labor-intensive tasks of credentialing employees. It also made the applications more user-friendly, with better customer service, while leveraging the productivity opportunities available from the technology infrastructure.

With its partner Deloitte Canada, Quantum Secure completed the deployment of the new PPCO improvement program at Toronto Pearson in December of 2008. "We are very proud to be a systems integrator of choice for the GTAA on this important initiative," added Romanovskiy. "They have certainly created a model for others to follow." For his visionary leadership behind the Toronto Pearson PPCO program, Bryan Scott was named 2008 Security Practitioner of the Year by the Toronto chapter of ASIS International for outstanding achievement in the practice of security and the deployment of security technology. ASIS International is a global association dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals. The organization has more than 35,000 members worldwide. Scott was honored at the 11th Annual Law Enforcement & Security Practitioners Appreciation on Oct. 16, 2008.

"We would like to congratulate Bryan on his outstanding accomplishments on behalf of Toronto Pearson International Airport," said Ajay Jain, Quantum Secure president and CEO. "As a result of his efforts, Toronto Pearson is a shining example for the rest of the industry."