Banking CIOOutlook: Specials Magazine

Across Europe, physical attacks on ATMs—often involving gas or solid explosives—have led to widespread use of reactive security measures like ink-stained banknotes. While these methods render the stolen cash unusable by criminals, they also do not avoid an explosion with the consequent huge damages in the bank branch, resulting in financial loss for banks and logistical burdens for authorities. InfoMAT offers a smarter alternative with ShockBuster. Instead of staining bills after a breach, it prevents access altogether. This cutting-edge system is built directly into the ATM’s dispenser and features an internal shutter protection blade that locks down the cash compartment at the first sign of tampering. Even if an attacker manages to breach the outer casing, ShockBuster prevents foreign objects or explosives from reaching the cash safe. Throughout the process, the system continuously monitors dispenser signals in real time, managing the external shutter and ensuring comprehensive, layered protection against physical attacks. By stopping the attack before the vault is exposed, ShockBuster preserves the integrity of both the machine and the money, shifting the focus from rendering the stolen cash unusable to true deterrence. High-risk environments demand stronger defences—and that’s where InfoMAT’s Hardox MASK comes in. For “lobby” ATMs placed in busy lobbies, public spaces or remote locations vulnerable to tampering and explosive attacks, the Hardox MASK provides an additional, powerful layer of physical security. Crafted from reinforced steel, it fortifies the outside of the ATM, shielding its most vulnerable point, such as the shutter area. Its armour is built to withstand physical force from drills, crowbars and even explosive blasts, making direct access significantly harder for attackers. By combining external reinforcement from the Hardox MASK with internal sealing from ShockBuster, InfoMAT delivers full-spectrum ATM security for all vendor models: “through the wall,” lobby, cash dispenser and deposit. “Today, when physical attacks on ATMs are on the rise, we are here to put a full stop to it,” says Claudio Benvenuti, president. “Our approach is simple: defend ATMs without alerting attackers, because the best security is the one they don't expect to find.” Early warnings are the difference between a failed attempt and a successful breach. Both ShockBuster and the Hardox MASK include an alarm interface that connects to local security circuits or remote-control rooms, providing rapid alerts that delay attacks long enough for authorities to respond within five to eight minutes. Protected ATMs thus become significantly less attractive targets. In fact, at locations with two machines—one equipped with ShockBuster and one left unprotected—attackers have repeatedly abandoned attempts on the protected ATM while successfully breaching the unprotected one.