Page 30 - Campus Security & Life Safety, April 2017

SCHOOL SECURITY
TIPS FOR DESIGNING INTEGRATED
ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEMS FOR
EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS
Expert advice will help maximize the efficacy and value of your school’s security system By Joshua Herron
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS REQUIRES A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH, ONE THAT CONSIDERS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM IT. IN AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING A WELL- DESIGNED SECURITY SYSTEM IS CRUCIAL TO CREATING A SAFE AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND IT CAN ALSO MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FAST RESPONSE TIME NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY HANDLE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
There are many elements to consider when improving or upgrading a security system at a school. Better integration will ease the processes of purchasing, installing and maintaining this critical investment in your organization’s facilities, and more importantly, the investment you will be making towards the well-being of your student population.
THE IMPORTANCE OF AN
INTEGRATED SECURITY SYSTEM
Your organization’s facilities may already have multiple safety, com-
munication and security systems, which taken together represent a collection of hardware and software (and expensive software updates) as well as various vendor relationships. The challenge with this arrangement is that the many separate system components do not “speak” to one another. This lack of integration makes it challenging to operate with the flexibility an open campus requires, and also inhibits the rapid response time that schools need during emergencies to obtain appropriate data and imaging for quick decision-making.
There is much for your team to consider as you evaluate a new and more integrated security system. These tips save your organization time and money, while also supporting a safer, better connected edu- cational environment.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR A WELL-DESIGNED, COST-EFFECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM
The optimal security solution in a campus environment is one that is well-integrated, flexible, coordinated, and supported by security expertise so your staff can focus on the regular full-time work of pro- viding the best education possible for your students.
CS30 WWW.CAMPUSLIFESECURITY.COM | APRIL 2017
A SPECIAL SECTION TO SECURITY PRODUCTS AND THE JOURNAL
CAMPUS SECURITY & LIFE SAFETY
Joana Lopes/Shutterstock.com