Page 18 - Campus Security Today, November/December 2024

S O C F O R C A M P U S E S
BUILDING A SOC TO ENHANCE CAMPUS SECURITY OPERATIONS
B R U C E C A N A L , C P P I S A N A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E , E D U C AT I O N F O R G E N E T E C .
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very day, thousands of alerts and sets of data compete
for your attention. Many of these relate to minor events
that don’t need an immediate response. Unmanaged,
this constant flow of alarms obscures real threats. A
unified security operations center (SOC) can be a re-
source to help cut down on the noise and aid in col-
laboration. A SOC helps security personnel view their security
systems in one place, share information seamlessly, and respond
more effectively.
While SOCs have become more common in cities and large,
multi-site organizations, they’re starting to gain traction in educa-
tional campuses. If you’re beginning to implement a SOC, there
are a few key considerations.
THE POWER OF UNFIICATION
Collaboration is at the heart of success within a SOC. Your
campus security operators should be able to easily work to-
gether. Advanced tools like video walls, communication tools,
and map-based systems enhance collaboration significantly.
However, the key to strong collaboration is unification. With
a unified solution, data flows seamlessly between systems so
operators can see all of their data from one interface and eas-
ily share information.
A SOC operator can share insights on a large video wall to
investigate and discuss a security incident with their colleagues–
pulling up data from their video, access control, and other inputs.
This dynamic collaboration, supported by features like news feeds
and traffic maps, ensures a well-coordinated response and a fluid
flow of information within the team. The ability to share informa-
tion at any moment ensures that everyone in the SOC is on the
same page.
GET THE BIGGER PICTURE WITH MAPPING TOOLS
Your operators need more than just security system data to co-
ordinate SOC operations. Providing mapping tools that visualize
the entire campus and connecting data from Industrial Internet of
Things (IoT) sensors contribute to a comprehensive understand-
ing of the environment.
Mapping tools allow your operators
to grasp the campus’s dynamics intui-
tively. For example, you can integrate IoT
devices to provide information on smoke
or vape detection, propped door alarms,
or other safety concerns. More impor-
tantly, it can provide real-time data for
ongoing events, such as active assailant
or pursuit situations.
This unified approach not only helps with proactive threat
detection and addressing security issues but also allows operators
to respond to broader environmental changes that may impact
your organization.
CUT THROUGH THE NOISE WITH AUTOMATION
The volume of data generated in a SOC can be overwhelming. One
of the dangers of receiving so many false or nuisance alarms is that
you start to ignore them, which may have dangerous consequences.
So, it’s important to ensure that you receive qualified alarms. Using
a collaborative decision management system within your SOC helps.
A collaborative decision management system can group
detected events—a blacklisted plate in the parking lot, a perim-
eter breach at the fence, or a forced door into the facility. It then
creates a qualified incident. When it recognizes a series of events
that suggest something is happening, it provides your team with
essential context. It links separate events to form a larger picture.
Based on this, the system alerts the SOC staff and identifies
the event as having a higher priority. Because the collaborative
decision management system can also send the associated video
feeds with the alarm, your team doesn’t need to search through
camera feeds to see the activity.
STREAMLINE RESPONSE PROTOCOLS
During campus security incidents, having a well-defined escala-
tion process is critical. Every second matters, so it’s important to
have a quick and efficient response strategy.
You can also support your staff by digitizing your standard
operating procedures (SOPs) within the unified platform. Step-
by-step instructions integrated within the system guide your team
so they follow best practices. Configure your system to include
prompts or reminders, send alerts, or trigger workflows when cer-
tain conditions are met.
A SOC AS A RESOURCE FOR YOUR CAMPUS
Your campus security should protect people and property without
making people feel watched, mistrusted, or fenced in. A well-
planned SOC can be a significant resource for your campus
security team to enhance safety in subtle and unobtrusive ways.
Overall, a SOC should be viewed as an aggregator of infor-
mation. Its success depends on correctly bringing together data
from sources like IoT devices and sensor intrusion systems, followed
by an effective incident response strategy.
A complete solution that is fully unified makes life easier for
security teams. When a system can aid in collaboration, cut through
the noise, and provide a comprehensive view, it helps your team
focus on what’s important and respond more effectively.
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