Page 98 - Security Today, October 2019

security needs of today? Not long ago, school security was defined by chains on exterior doors, fences to protect children on a playground, hall passes for students wandering outside of classrooms and emer- gency phones in strategic locations on college campuses. With the media attention surrounding active shooter incidents in schools, all eyes are on campus security officials and the tools they are currently using to keep students safe.
Security measures that encompass both technology and safety training protocols are gaining the most traction, as these methods aim to both implement innovative solutions and teach operators how best to utilize the technology at their fingertips. Let’s examine some of these measures and look at how schools are shifting priorities and changing the definition of protection:
Old way: Open, come-and-go-as-you-please campuses
New way: Secure entrances and exits allow controlled access to
students, faculty, vendors and visitors
Comprehensively securing all corners of a campus is the goal of any school administration team, as it’s important for students to feel safe and for parents to be assured of the protection of their kids. But school officials are tasked with the challenge of balancing an open, welcoming environment with a safe one, and sometimes that can be tricky.
Today’s access control and visitor management tools provide these leaders with the ability to provide security and issue lockdown functionality in a simple and efficient manner, without making a facility feel like a prison. Additionally, integrated visitor manage- ment software makes it easy for parents, visitors and vendors to quickly check in and gain access to specific areas throughout the building or campus.
Old way: Exterior door chains being used to secure perimeter double doors
New way: Network integrated access control on perimeter doors Years ago, many gymnasiums and push-doors were locked with a key and then secured with chains and padlocks. Maintenance personnel were required to go from door to door with a set of keys to manually lock and unlock these doors.
We’ve since fast forwarded to the enhanced capabilities of security management systems supporting wireless locks and networked access control solutions to regulate entry into and exit out of campus doors. These solutions allow campus security officials and administrators to remotely monitor and change the state of perimeter doors with the touch of a button. During emergencies, this allows for faster response times and increased safety.
Old way: Focusing only on main entrance doors
New way: Integrated solutions expand access control options to
include secondary perimeter doors
In the past, it was common to think about nothing but primary perimeter doors when it came to restricting entry from intruders. It has since become increasingly clear how important it is to focus on secondary perimeter doors as well—a facility is only as secure as its weakest link.
Today’s integrated solutions enable school administrators to incor- porate those secondary doors into their security strategy and ensure that all entrances to the facility can be monitored and locked down remotely with the push of a button.
Old way: Standalone CCTV systems
New way: Digital video surveillance integrated with access control
Another key technology that has helped improve campus safety is
video surveillance, and in many schools, video is the first thought when it comes to adding security solutions.
Today’s video management software (VMS) can be tightly inte- grated with access control data allowing for a comprehensive under- standing of a situation, and quick decision-making. For example, if a ‘door forced open’ alarm is triggered, officials can simultaneously view live and recorded video of the incident and respond accordingly. Video also can be a deterrent from theft and vandalism and is even being used to identify bullying in today’s schools.
Old way: PA system announcements for lockdowns
New way: Automatic lockdowns across a campus
One area that has seen significant improvement is in campus lock- down options. In the past, when a school or campus was placed on lockdown, certain personnel were appointed to manually lock doors with a physical key, which was not the most efficient method in a crisis situation.
This put administrators in harm’s way and took critical time to execute. Fortunately, new lockdown capabilities have been devel- oped to increase effectiveness and protect faculty in the event of an emergency. Schools can now leverage an access control or intrusion system that provides them the ability to lock down an entire campus remotely.
Old way: Mechanical lock-and-key systems
New way: Electronic locks, mobile credentials/capabilities, remote
management and more
Many campuses are still operating on a mechanical lock-and-key sys- tem, which can be costly and difficult to manage. The rise and afford- ability of networked access control and mobile credentials have made mechanical lock-and-key systems a thing of the past for budget-con- scious schools.
Additionally, remote management of a security system through a mobile app helps streamline decision-making, allowing officials to actively manage all aspects of an access control solution from any location for maximum flexibility.
Old way: One-size-fits-all system
New way: Customized, integrated solutions
The demand for systems integration is providing campuses the advantage of interoperability between security and campus systems. Instead of running multiple disparate systems that require manual data entry and duplicated effort, the ability to connect these systems through customized workflow solutions allows for improved efficien- cies and cost savings.
Campuses often integrate multiple data management programs, such as housing, class scheduling and event management systems with their access control and video solutions to deliver streamlined operations.
Continuing Evolution Through Forward-thinking Innovation
Whether 20 years ago or today, educators, administrators and parents can all agree on one thing: the need to provide safe and secure learn- ing environments for students is of paramount importance.
However, today’s campus security needs have become more com- plex, creating unique challenges when it comes to providing solutions that enhance protection while at the same time present a welcoming experience. As campus security needs continue to evolve, the solu- tions designed to keep students, faculty and staff safe will also shift to meet those demands.
Lynn Wood is the product portfolio manager at Vanderbilt.
campus technology
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