How We Secured Azrieli Acre Mall: A Command Center Story

It's 3:47 PM on a Friday afternoon at Azrieli Acre Mall, and the command center is alive with activity. Six large monitors display live feeds from over 200 security cameras spanning multiple retail levels, parking areas, and service corridors. A security operator scans the screens methodically, her trained eye moving between mall entrances crowded with weekend shoppers and quieter back corridors where delivery personnel navigate service routes.

On screen four, she notices unusual movement near a loading dock. Two quick clicks bring up adjacent camera angles. Within seconds, she's coordinating with floor security through the integrated communication system, confirming it's an authorized delivery running behind schedule. Crisis averted before it became a concern.

This is the daily reality inside one of Northern Israel's most sophisticated retail security operations—a system that took CoreIT Communication Solutions ten months to design, install, and perfect.

The Challenge: Securing a Regional Shopping Destination

When the Azrieli Group approached us to implement comprehensive security infrastructure for their Acre location, the scope was immediately clear: this wasn't just another retail project. The Azrieli Acre Mall serves as Northern Israel's premier shopping destination, housing over 200 retail stores in the historic coastal city of Acre. With the facility attracting thousands of daily visitors, the security requirements demanded something exceptional.

Israeli shopping centers maintain the distinction of never experiencing a successful security breach despite over 100 attempted attacks since the 1990s. This remarkable record stems from what security experts call the "layered defense approach"—multiple security perimeters working in concert, from trained personnel at entrances to sophisticated monitoring systems throughout the facility. Our challenge was to implement this proven methodology at a scale appropriate for a major regional mall.

The facility presented specific technical challenges. Multiple building levels, over 200 independent retail tenants, numerous entry and exit points, parking facilities requiring comprehensive coverage, and service areas with different security requirements all needed to be integrated into a single, coherent security architecture. Additionally, the system needed to operate seamlessly during regular business hours while protecting one of the most valuable commercial properties in Northern Israel.

Global retail security statistics underscored the urgency. Retailers worldwide reported a 93% increase in security incidents between 2019 and 2023, with the industry losing over $112 billion annually to theft and security breaches. The stakes were clear: build a system that could prevent incidents before they occurred while maintaining the welcoming atmosphere shoppers expect from a premium retail destination.

The Solution: Command Center Architecture

Our approach centered on creating a professional security operations center—a centralized command center that would serve as the nerve system for the entire facility's security infrastructure. This wasn't simply about installing cameras; it was about building an integrated platform where surveillance, communication, and response capabilities merged into a single operational framework.

The command center features a sophisticated multi-screen video wall configuration, providing security personnel with simultaneous views of all critical areas. Professional workstations equipped with multiple monitors, specialized control interfaces, and integrated communication systems enable operators to maintain comprehensive situational awareness across the entire facility.

Behind the visible technology lies the real foundation of the system: enterprise-grade infrastructure built to commercial standards. We implemented structured Cat6 cabling throughout the facility, supporting high-resolution video transmission and future technology upgrades. Professional patch panels, organized with military precision, ensure system reliability and maintainable infrastructure that will serve the facility for years to come.

The cable management system deserves particular attention. Every cable is color-coded—red for power distribution, white and gray for data communications. Each connection is labeled, documented, and organized through professional cable trays and routing systems. This attention to infrastructure detail ensures not just initial system performance, but long-term reliability and ease of maintenance.

Implementation: Ten Months of Precision Installation

The project timeline spanned ten months, with work progressing in carefully coordinated phases to minimize disruption to ongoing retail operations. Our team worked extensively during off-hours, with much of the critical infrastructure installation occurring during overnight shifts when mall traffic was minimal.

Phase one focused on backbone infrastructure. We installed hundreds of kilometers of structured cabling through concealed pathways, ensuring no visible disruption to the mall's aesthetic. The patch panel installations alone required meticulous planning—multiple 48-port panels organized across several server rooms, each connection tested and certified to ensure signal integrity.

The second phase brought the command center online. We constructed the video wall, integrated workstations, and implemented the communication infrastructure that links security personnel throughout the facility. This phase required extensive coordination with the mall's IT infrastructure, ensuring our security systems integrated properly with existing building management and emergency systems.

Camera deployment came in phase three. We installed high-definition surveillance cameras covering all retail corridors, common areas, entrances, exits, parking facilities, and service zones. Each camera placement was calculated to provide optimal coverage while respecting tenant privacy and complying with Israeli privacy regulations. The cameras feed into advanced video management systems with recording, playback, and analytical capabilities supporting both real-time monitoring and post-incident investigation.

The final phase involved system testing, personnel training, and optimization. We ran the entire system through extensive testing protocols, simulating various security scenarios to ensure rapid response capabilities. Mall security personnel received comprehensive training on system operation, threat recognition, and coordination procedures.

Throughout the implementation, we maintained daily coordination with mall management, retail tenants, and the Azrieli Group's corporate security team. Regular progress reviews ensured the project stayed on schedule and met evolving requirements as the facility's needs became clearer during construction.

The Technology: Infrastructure That Delivers

The technical specifications of the Azrieli Acre Mall security system reflect enterprise-grade standards throughout. The network backbone utilizes structured Cat6 cabling capable of supporting current high-definition video requirements while providing capacity for future 4K camera upgrades and advanced analytics integration.

The command center's multi-screen configuration provides operators with customizable views of the entire facility. Operators can display multiple camera feeds simultaneously, zoom into specific areas, track movement across cameras, and quickly respond to alerts from any zone in the facility. The video management system includes intelligent features like motion detection, loitering alerts, and unusual crowd pattern recognition.

Communication integration represents a critical system component. Security personnel throughout the facility maintain constant contact with the command center through professional communication systems. In an incident, the command center can instantly coordinate response from multiple security positions, contact mall management, and integrate with emergency services if required.

The infrastructure also supports future expansion. The cable management system includes capacity for additional cameras, sensors, or other security technologies. The network architecture can accommodate emerging technologies like AI-powered video analytics, facial recognition (subject to legal compliance), or integration with retail tenants' individual security systems.

Backup and redundancy systems ensure continuous operation. Redundant power supplies protect critical systems, backup communication paths provide failover capabilities, and distributed recording systems ensure video evidence preservation even if primary systems experience issues.

Business Impact: Security That Enables Commerce

The operational benefits of the integrated security system extend far beyond simple loss prevention. The command center approach has fundamentally transformed security operations at the facility.

Enhanced Customer Safety: Comprehensive surveillance throughout shopping areas and parking facilities provides visible deterrence while enabling rapid response to any incidents or emergencies. The professional security presence, supported by advanced monitoring technology, creates an environment where customers feel safe—a critical factor in retail success.

Loss Prevention Excellence: Multi-angle camera coverage in retail corridors and common areas provides powerful theft deterrence. The advanced monitoring systems enable proactive loss prevention strategies, while high-quality video documentation supports investigations when incidents do occur. Several retail tenants have reported measurable decreases in shrinkage since the system became operational.

Operational Efficiency: Centralized monitoring has reduced overall security staffing requirements while improving response effectiveness. The integrated systems streamline security operations and communication, eliminating the coordination challenges inherent in distributed security approaches. Professional installation standards ensure reliable operation with minimal maintenance requirements.

Emergency Preparedness: The 24/7 monitoring capability ensures continuous security oversight regardless of time or day. Communication integration enables seamless coordination with emergency services when required. Perhaps most importantly, the scalable architecture supports ongoing mall expansion and technology upgrades without requiring system replacement.

The system has proven its value in daily operations. Security incidents that once required multiple coordination steps now receive immediate, coordinated responses. The ability to review recorded video has resolved numerous disputes, supported investigations, and provided valuable evidence for law enforcement when needed.

Lessons Learned: Insights from a Complex Project

Every major project teaches lessons that inform future work. The Azrieli Acre Mall implementation provided several crucial insights about large-scale retail security integration.

Infrastructure quality determines long-term success. The months we invested in professional cable management, proper labeling, and systematic organization have paid dividends in system reliability and ease of maintenance. Cutting corners on infrastructure invariably creates problems down the road.

Coordination is continuous, not episodic. Our daily communication with mall management, tenant coordination, and Azrieli corporate security proved essential. Large facilities have complex operational requirements that only become apparent through ongoing dialogue.

Training determines system effectiveness. Technology alone doesn't provide security—trained personnel using technology effectively provide security. We invested significant time in comprehensive training programs, and the results are visible in daily operations.

Flexibility matters in retail environments. Retail facilities evolve constantly, with tenant changes, layout modifications, and operational adjustments. Building flexibility into the system architecture—through excess capacity, modular designs, and adaptable configurations—ensures the system remains effective as the facility changes.

The "layered security" approach works. The Israeli methodology of multiple integrated security perimeters, behavioral training for personnel, and centralized coordination has proven itself over decades. Our implementation validated these principles in a major retail environment.

The Command Center Advantage

The Azrieli Acre Mall project demonstrates what's possible when advanced technology meets professional implementation and operational expertise. The command center approach—centralized monitoring, integrated communications, and coordinated response—represents the current standard for major retail security operations.

For facility managers, security directors, and retail operators considering security upgrades, the lessons are clear. Modern retail security demands more than cameras and guards. It requires integrated systems, professional infrastructure, trained personnel, and centralized coordination capabilities that enable rapid, effective responses to any situation.

The investment in comprehensive security infrastructure delivers measurable returns through loss prevention, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer confidence. In an era when retail security incidents are increasing globally, facilities that implement proven security methodologies position themselves for sustained success.

Your Facility's Security Journey

CoreIT Communication Solutions specializes in comprehensive security implementations for retail facilities, shopping centers, and commercial complexes throughout Palestine and Israel. Our approach combines cutting-edge technology with deep understanding of regional security requirements and proven implementation methodologies.

Whether you're planning a new facility, upgrading existing security infrastructure, or addressing specific security challenges, our team brings the expertise necessary to design and implement effective solutions.

Ready to discuss your facility's security needs?

Contact CoreIT for a complimentary security assessment and discover how command center security operations can transform your facility's safety, operational efficiency, and loss prevention capabilities.

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