Key challenges:
The company had aging video security infrastructure that could no longer meet its surveillance and security requirements.
Scale Computing solution:
M&H Plastics deployed a Windows server VM on the Scale Computing HyperCore hyperconverged platform in order to run Blue Iris Video Management Software (VMS), thus keeping costs down and integrating the software with existing cameras.
Key security applications running on Scale Computing HyperCore:
- Blue Iris (Video Management Software)
- Paxton, an access control solution
Business benefits:
- Easy integration
- Enabled remote viewing
- Fast storage
- Ability to easily expand storage
- Reduced IT operating costs
- Simplified management
M&H Plastics, part of the Berry Global Group
M&H Plastics is one of the UK’s premier suppliers of plastic packaging to a large range of markets, covering the personal care, healthcare, pharmaceutical, nutritional, pet care, automotive, and household product markets. The company is part of Berry Global, a global manufacturing organisation in industries from agriculture to hospitality.
The company specialises in the production and decoration of high-quality plastic products. In a consumer-driven environment distinctive packaging is vital, and M&H Plastics offers unrivalled expertise in developing packaging solutions for markets where quality and style are critical to a product’s success.
The business has an extensive range of almost 5,000 standard products, and is also able to offer custom moulding of exclusive designs with a low cost of entry. IT plays a vital role in the smooth running of the business, as virtually all operations are conducted in-house, on site – from concept design, through toolmaking to production, artwork and decoration. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the company premises are kept secure at all times, supporting both day-to-day operations and future expansion plans for the company.
IT challenges
M&H Plastics IT infrastructure was 10 years old and it was relying on legacy, open source video software. It needed a refresh. IT leadership evaluated VMS software that would run on their existing SC//HyperCore platform, and decided on Blue Iris as a good fit for their needs. The video security system was needed by the M&H Plastics operations group, which uses it to monitor when trucks entire and leave secure areas of the facility. The system needed to support 20 cameras, as well as six which maintain snapshots of the Blue Iris VMS every week and keep them for six weeks before automatically deleting.
Evaluating the market
M&H Plastics decided to evaluate the different options that could replace aging infrastructure. It needed to invest in a system that would be compatible with Blue Iris VMS which would allow the company to continue using existing cameras, and to cut back on costs. After looking at a number of solutions, M&H Plastics decided to broaden its deployment of Scale Computing HyperCore to also run its VMS. The hyperconverged solution is the best approach as it provides the infrastructure needed to support the company’s current demands, while paving the way for potential future deployments.
Rob Mellor, Director of IT at M&H Plastics, commented, “While I had weighed up other options on the market, our experience with Scale Computing thus far has been so positive that it seemed a ‘no-brainer’ to extend existing storage to cover VMS, rather than invest in a new solution. SC//HyperCore is a great fit for us, with a number of technical capabilities – it is easy to deploy, simple to run, ideal for data protection, self-healing, and is very cost-efficient. We are yet to have any issues at all and don’t foresee any for the future!”
Benefits
Utilising SC//HyperCore has brought a significant number of benefits for M&H Plastics. It was easy to integrate running Blue Iris onto SC//HyperCore with its other IT infrastructure, simplifying management. The ability to use Blue Iris has meant that the company could reduce costs by taking advantage of pre-existing cameras.
Furthermore, SC//HyperCore allows a remote viewing capability with multi-tenancy, meaning the IT team can ensure maximum security at all times.
In addition, SC//HyperCore provides dramatically improved snapshot capabilities. M&H Plastics can take as many as 5,000 snapshots with SC//HyperCore, and with more frequent snapshots the company can ensure restored files are much more up to date for improved business continuity. The company is currently taking a snapshot of the Blue Iris VMS every week and keeping it for six weeks before it is automatically deleted.