Page 77 - Security Today, January/February 2021

enable the advanced integration with leading video management systems and the connec- tion to video assets to reach a higher level of situational awareness. This technology ensures all students, staff and visitors are properly monitored and opens up the scope
for security management to identify, evaluate and track incidents or unsafe situations.
Unified Access Management
To ensure the safety of everyone on campus and the surrounding communities, distribut-
ing accurate access approvals is essential. Successful containment is contingent on tak- ing control of who is permitted in predeter- mined areas. Via mobile notifications, cer- tain platforms offer administrations the opportunity to switch over to a “code access only” model. Integrated access management has the power to unite QR coding access control and specialized third party systems. This will expedite check-in for hassle-free daily activities, and it also becomes a tool that will help security teams more safely and discreetly transfer at-risk individuals.
A Lifeline for Comprehensive
Incident Response
Without a reliable and immediate connection between campus security teams and local emergency responders, including 911, an intelligent incident management system isn’t fully optimized. Protecting students, staff and visitors on a campus requires rapid and pre- cise alerts to field responders. When an inci- dent threatens the health and safety of any- one — whether it’s a small group or the entire community — an established line of commu- nication with emergency responders, rein- forced by situational awareness on an interac- tive platform, can be the differentiator in effective response management. If a field response is necessary, utilizing advanced capabilities via the platform such as live observations, automatic response protocols, location sharing using GIS maps and real- time mobile communication, as previously discussed, will transform engagement with dispatch and response teams and improve decision making.
Enhancing Communications
for a Smooth Transition
Whether it’s difficulty in health monitoring, process interruption, snowballing miscom- munications or a lack of incident response plans, overcoming the complex challenges due to the global pandemic begins by adopt- ing a technology-centric health and safety approach that includes intelligent mobile applications. Advanced collaboration tools provide the direct channels to conduct pre- ventative voice and video conversations, send urgent push-to-talk communications and share critical messages regarding access, poli- cy updates or developments in ongoing issues.
Many solutions have been designed to address the varied complications that school officials are contending with, but they should never be worse than the problem. Deploying platform-based rapid communication tech- nology can help schools develop a straight- forward and pragmatic strategy to restore campus operations with confidence. Admin- istrators can become more proactive with health planning, and enhancing safety turns into a streamlined process.
Alan Stoddard is the vice president and gen- eral manager of Verint Situational Intelligence Solutions.
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