Page 68 - Security Today, September/October 2023

INTELLIGENT CAMPUS REAL TIME CRIME CENTER OPERATIONS TO IMPROVE CAMPUS SECURITY STREAMLINING SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES INTO A SINGLE SOFTWARE PLATFORM CENTRALIZES DATA, KEEPS LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMED AUTHOR BRUCE CANAL IS A SCHOOL SECURITY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AND ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FOR EDUCATION AT GENETEC L imited resources and evolving threats make it more chal- lenging than ever for campus police departments and physical security teams. To effectively ensure public safety, many campus police departments are adopting new op- eration models. They are seeking ways to respond more quickly to potential threats and communicate more ef- fectively with stakeholders. Security teams often need to do more with less, without compromising safety. In an emergency, the ability to stay informed and respond swiftly in changing conditions is crucial. For several college campuses, real-time crime centers (RTCCs) have emerged as a cost-effective and highly efficient solution to enhance campus security. These crime-fighting nerve centers facilitate decision-making through increased intelligence and better understanding. They enable campus police departments and physical security teams to enhance situational awareness, improve officer safety, and ex- pedite case resolution. RTCCs rely on a unified software platform to bring together all the data gathered by security systems and sensors. Instead of toggling between windows or exporting data between programs, campus safety personnel can view all the relevant information in one place. A unified software platform can also filter out irrelevant information and present the data in intuitive ways. The RTCC approach makes it easier to detect unusual activity or potential threats, coordinate an effective response, and have a real-time view of activities. Your security team can access all the information they need to understand an incident and determine the next steps quickly. AN EVOLUTION FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE RESPONSE Many higher education campuses have established Security Operation Centers (SOCs) to monitor and manage security operations. The SOC is typically respon- sible for surveillance, incident response, and enforcing security protocols. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are often established to guide the actions of security personnel. An RTCC takes the idea a step further. It’s designed for im- mediate response and prevention of crime and threats. It goes be- yond traditional security operations by integrating real-time data from various sources to detect, analyze, and respond to criminal activities more efficiently. While there may be some similarities between a SOC and an RTCC, the key difference lies in the scope and purpose of their operations. An RTCC is geared towards prevention, real-time monitoring, and intelligence dissemination to prevent and respond to potential threats swiftly. It involves a broader collaboration and integration of resources beyond the immediate security operations. The capability to share data helps teams break down siloes between departments and can even help your team collaborate more effectively with the community. Your team and local police can respond more quickly, with better situational awareness to help keep officers safe and to aid in investigations. A MAP-BASED, HOLISTIC APPROACH The RTCC approach is designed to facilitate collaboration, inclusion, and communication with internal stakeholders, as well as law en- forcement and other external partners. It’s a more holistic approach to security. To aid in this comprehensive view, an RTCC team can take advantage of a map-based interface within the unified system. It allows operators to quickly see where an incident takes place. The map-based interface becomes the main visualization dashboard from which the security team manages emergency responses. Everything from cameras and gunshot detection ana- lytics to computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) information and officer locations are combined within the interface. When an incident occurs, the RTCC staff can quickly view nearby activities and avail- able responders. For example, your staff can be alerted when a large gathering forms on a certain part of campus. They can use their map-based interface to pull footage from cameras and other sensors within a specific radius of the event. If a potential threat is identified, your team can dispatch nearby officers. 8