A phased hardware and software migration across a live, critical data centre - replacing end-of-life fingerprint readers and ageing cameras without disrupting facility operations.
ST Engineering FORT is an established colocation data centre at 6 Changi South Lane, operated by ST Engineering Cloud and Data Centre Solutions - a facility that has served multiple enterprise clients since ST Engineering entered the data centre market in 2009. The facility runs a stringent access control regime across all operational zones. Securevision has been a long-standing service partner for the facility, giving us detailed knowledge of the installed systems and operational constraints. This project covered HDC2 - a designated zone within the facility - requiring a full platform migration and camera upgrade while keeping the facility live throughout.
| Client | ST Engineering FORT Data Centre |
|---|---|
| Location | 6 Changi South Lane, Singapore |
| Sector | Data Centre - Colocation |
| Project Type | Platform Migration + Surveillance Upgrade |
| Scale | 5 access doors; 40+ cameras replaced |
| Completion | May 2025 |
The FORT facility had been running ZKTeco access control software version 3.5 for a number of years - a platform that had served the site reliably but had reached its official end-of-life. ZKTeco's successor platform is ZK CV Security, which brings a modern interface, improved reporting, and ongoing vendor support. The problem was a hard technical one: the existing fingerprint readers installed across HDC2 were incompatible with ZK CV Security. The old hardware could not be migrated - it had to be replaced.
The situation was analogous to running an older operating system and needing to upgrade: the new OS requires new hardware, and there is no middle path. For a live data centre where access control is a critical security layer, this meant planning a complete hardware replacement - readers, controllers, and wiring - while ensuring that authorised access for staff and clients was uninterrupted throughout.
The surveillance system presented a separate but related challenge. The existing cameras were ageing analogue units with performance that no longer met the facility's requirements, particularly in the low-light conditions present in server hall corridors and equipment areas. Over 40 cameras needed to be replaced with IP cameras capable of producing clear, detailed footage in minimal light.
| Operational Area | Before | Securevision Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Access platform | ZKTeco v3.5 - end-of-life, no vendor support | ZK CV Security - current supported platform with full vendor backing |
| Reader hardware | Legacy fingerprint readers, incompatible with new software | New ZKTeco readers, fully compatible with CV Security |
| Platform migration path | None - hardware and software both locked at EOL | Clean migration: new hardware commissioned, CV Security configured, old system decommissioned |
| Surveillance | Ageing cameras, degraded low-light performance | Hikvision DarkFighter IP cameras - optimised for low-light environments |
| Camera system | Analogue, limited resolution | Full IP network CCTV with NVR recording |
| Operational continuity | Any upgrade carries disruption risk in a live DC | Phased rollout - zones migrated sequentially, access maintained throughout |
In a live data centre, there is no scheduled maintenance window long enough to replace all access hardware in a single cutover. The facility operates 24/7 and the clients colocated within it cannot tolerate access interruptions. The question was not whether to upgrade - the EOL position made that mandatory - but how to sequence it so that the facility remained fully operational at every stage.
Securevision designed a phased migration approach for HDC2: replacing readers and commissioning ZK CV Security door by door, verifying each zone before moving to the next. At no point was a zone left without functional access control. The old system remained active in untouched zones until each area was individually cutover and verified. The same sequencing logic was applied to the camera upgrade.
Outcome: The phased approach allowed the full migration to be completed across 5 doors and 40+ cameras without any access outage or operational disruption to the facility or its clients.
Securevision's approach was built around one constraint: nothing that affected existing access could be taken offline until its replacement was tested and verified.
Mapped all existing readers, controllers, and wiring against ZK CV Security requirements. Identified which elements could be retained and which required replacement. Produced a door-by-door migration sequence.
Configured ZK CV Security on new servers, imported all existing credential data, and established the new platform in parallel before any hardware was touched.
Replaced readers and controllers one door at a time. Each zone was commissioned on the new platform, access verified, and only then was the old hardware decommissioned. Access was never simultaneously unavailable on both systems.
Replaced 40+ cameras with Hikvision DarkFighter IP units connected to new NVRs. Positioned for coverage of server hall corridors, equipment areas, and entry points where low-light performance was critical.
The sequential method added time to the overall programme but eliminated operational risk - the correct trade-off for a facility of this classification.
ZK CV Security as the new access management backbone; Hikvision DarkFighter for surveillance in low-light data centre environments.
The new platform manages all credential records, access schedules, and event logging for HDC2. CV Security replaces the end-of-life v3.5 environment with a fully supported, current-release platform.
Entry Access Control →Replacement readers across all 5 doors, selected for compatibility with CV Security and appropriate for the access credential types in use at the facility. Commissioned individually during phased migration.
Entry Access Control →Over 40 cameras replaced with Hikvision DarkFighter IP units. DarkFighter technology is optimised for ultra-low light environments - critical for server hall corridors and areas where artificial lighting is kept minimal to reduce thermal load.
Surveillance & Detection →A full platform migration covering 5 access doors and replacement of over 40 cameras across the HDC2 zone of the FORT data centre.
Platform: ZK CV Security - full credential management, access scheduling, event logging, and reporting. Replaces ZKTeco v3.5 (EOL).
Readers: New ZKTeco biometric readers across 5 doors - selected for CV Security compatibility
Cameras: 40+ Hikvision DarkFighter IP cameras replacing legacy analogue units
ZKTeco v3.5 fully decommissioned and replaced with ZK CV Security. The facility now operates on a current, vendor-supported access management platform.
The phased migration approach ensured no access zone was unavailable at any point. Staff and client access remained uninterrupted throughout the upgrade programme.
40+ DarkFighter cameras provide clear, detailed footage in the minimal-light conditions of the server halls - a capability the legacy analogue cameras could not deliver.
ZK CV Security is the current ZKTeco platform roadmap. The facility is now positioned to take advantage of ongoing platform updates and new credential technologies without another hardware replacement cycle.
Securevision's long-term service relationship with FORT means the upgraded systems are maintained by the same team that installed them, with no handover gap.
CV Security's centralised logging provides a complete, timestamped record of all access events across HDC2 - supporting the facility's compliance and audit obligations.
The ZKTeco v3.5 end-of-life position at FORT was not a surprise - EOL dates are published in advance. What made this project manageable was the pre-existing service relationship that gave us accurate knowledge of every door, every reader, and every wiring run before the migration began. The phased approach we used only worked because we had done the compatibility audit before touching any hardware. For critical facilities, the worst outcome of an EOL platform is an unplanned failure during an emergency - which is why the right time to migrate is always before that point is reached.
Every project Securevision delivers draws on multiple systems working together - cameras, access control, intercoms, vehicle management, network infrastructure, and platform software. The cards below show the full range of systems we design and install. Each one links to a deeper explanation of how it works, when it is needed, and what to look for when specifying it.
Whether your access system is approaching end-of-life or your cameras are no longer performing, we can assess your site and design a phased upgrade that keeps operations running.