Page 90 - Security Today, April 2021

"With 35 buildings and numerous residence halls to manage, Missouri S&T sought to automate various systems through a centralized access control platform."
Open that Platform
A centralized system is important to university staff to stay ahead of the curve
Access Control
Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T) sits on 284 acres between Springfield MO., and St. Louis in the city of Rolla, MO. Missouri S&T was founded in 1870 as one of the first technological institutions west of the Mississippi.
More than 8,000 students attend the university, which offers degree programs in engineering, computer science, business and manage- ment systems, information science and technology, sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts.
Updating the Buildings
As Missouri S&T has grown, so has the demand for new facilities and updated buildings, which necessitated additional security solutions. The university was using a number of different platforms to control access to various buildings that made up the main campus of the university, as well as a physical lock-and-key system that posed a problem with oversight and management.
With 35 buildings and numerous residence halls to manage, Mis- souri S&T sought to automate various systems through a centralized access control platform.
“When every key issued isn’t returned, you don’t know who has access. This can create significant risk to an organization,” said Fred Stone, director of Design and Construction Management at Missouri S&T. “Additionally, we had a strong need for automation. Granting access and making decisions based on existing data sources required a platform that was flexible and could conform to our own custom- ized business processes.”
University staff wanted the ability to incorporate data into its human resources, student management, course enrollment and event management system. For example, only students and relevant staff would have access to student dormitories after hours.
S&T staff wanted a system that allowed access and excluded access based on access need and security.
“Before the updates to our system, if someone wanted to give a large group of students’ access to a space for an extended period of time or after hours, we’d have to issue a key,” Stone said. “We got into a situation where spaces would be unlocked for extended periods and pose a potential security risk. We needed a system that could help address these challenges.”
Streamline Access Control
Missouri S&T tested three different platforms in a pilot program to determine which system would address the challenges identified and help streamline access control across the university. Staff determined that two of the three solutions were not a match for the university, and RS2 Technologies emerged as the top choice.
In fact, the other systems required an additional investment to
integrate the data systems that the university identified as being a critical part of the solution.
“Having the ability to launch a new access control program, creating business processes and working directly with RS2 to get this done was invaluable to our team,” Stone said. “RS2 was able to make all of the modifications requested without having to funnel through a third party.”
S&T staff wanted to select an access control platform that would allow multiple university leaders to access data.
“We didn’t want to be the only ones with the ability to generate reports, grant and restrict access and perform other day-to-day tasks,” Stone said. Missouri S&T installed the RS2 Technologies Access It!® Universal.NET access management solution, which pro- vides the university with the ability to integrate third-party devices, such as DVRs, NVRs, video surveillance technology, intercom, intru- sion detection and visitor management systems.
RS2 Technologies has constructed an integrated family of access management software and hardware that can be configured to pro- vide a cost-effective solution for very small to very large systems. Missouri S&T needed to grant access to multiple staff, including 88 users across campus. This widespread access helps the department save time and resources for high-level issues.
By Jeff Bransfield
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38 campuslifesecurity.com | MARCH/APRIL 2021