Page 12 - Campus Security & Life Safety, March/April 2022

Emerging Technology
For so many schools today, math and spelling tests serve as accountability to ensure students work hard and concentrate on learning. But for administrators, evaluations of a different kind are at hand: the assessments necessary to examine how schools handle emergency response, security risks and incident management. Therefore, in addition to fostering supportive and creative learning environments, schools must also focus on optimizing the safety of students and faculty. And this fact has propelled educational institutions to proactively engage in training and technology investments, in addition to re-examining security policies and procedures. And although traditional video surveillance and access control are valuable solutions, there are new technologies to consider evaluating.
Bring in the cloud.
The cloud has proven to be a highly functional, flexible and convenient method for small- to medium-sized campuses. Cloud- based services, such as video and access control-as-a-service, provide educational facilities the ability to manage multiple cameras, access control permissions and video analytics. The cloud can be a powerful tool in helping you leverage your existing video surveillance investments (including current cameras) to deliver centralized, remote management of video, reducing the capital investments needed to transform data into usable insights. But that's not all it helps with. The cloud is helping to revolutionize security functions in many ways.
Accessibility. One of the biggest advantages of the cloud is allowing the right users to access information from anywhere. Data collected from IoT devices are funneled into a single, intuitive platform designed to be as easy to use as your smartphone. In an emergency or incident, stakeholders can obtain the most relevant and timely information in minutes for an immediate, informed response.
Scalability. When purchasing technology, immediate needs are often prioritized over what future needs may be. Cloud-based services can scale easily as needed, including adding devices such as additional access points or more video surveillance cameras. And this level of scalability can happen on the fly.
Data Security. Don't let the naysayers fool you: A public cloud service can enhance data protection versus an on-premise solution. First, public cloud providers like Google have stringent security measures to protect data being transmitted and stored. And it makes sense because their entire business is based on cloud and
data storage. Additionally, these well-known cloud service providers incorporate strong security protocols including vulnerability testing, encryption and secure password etiquette to ensure the data they have promised to keep is protected.
Automatic Updates. While a majority of today's schools employ an IT department to help address network-related issues, these individuals often support the most critical IT processes. Manual updates to on-premise technologies, while critical, can become cumbersome for smaller teams. Cloud services help address this challenge because they automate upgrades and firmware fixes. Maintenance and software updates are managed by the cloud service provider, freeing up IT teams to focus on more critical tasks.
Flexibility. Schools constantly have to adapt to changes. Schedules, events, and student and staff line-ups can change daily, requiring easy-to-use and simple-to-manage solutions that can be quickly and easily updated on demand. With cloud services’ centralized management, schools can quickly add or change a security or IoT device. Stakeholders can also add new buildings as needed without the downtime typically associated with on-premises platforms.
The changing nature of modern campuses demands solutions and services that are accessible, scalable and flexible. At the same time, they must provide the ideal level of security to ensure a safe yet welcoming educational environment. Here’s a look at how one school made it happen with cloud:
An Advanced Educational Leader
This school district is recognized as one of the best institutions for quality, impact and value. They provide academic and physical learning opportunities to establish a dynamic foundation for quality education and continued student growth. Central to this accomplishment is the collaboration among all shareholders and disciplines.
As part of its core mission, the school district takes security and safety very seriously. From its modern security operations to its extensive video infrastructure, it is evident that the school is focused on maintaining a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Security officers monitor their video to stay ahead of any apparent risks, and the camera system is instrumental in keeping students and faculty safe. But what was missing was advanced functionality and simplified management of their infrastructure.
12 campuslifesecurity.com | MARCH/APRIL 2022
By Nigel Waterton
Teachers, Books and Clouds: 5 Ways the Cloud is Revolutionizing School Security