Page 74 - Security Today, March/April 2025

D A T A S E C U R I T Y
FROM SAFETY TO STRATEGY: HOW TO LEVERAGE
DATA SECURITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
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
T
oday’s higher education campuses function much like
small cities. Each department works autonomously yet
relies on shared resources to operate effectively. Since
these departments often work independently, collabora-
tion can be difficult, leading to inefficiencies.
This includes physical security teams, who often only focus
on the traditional functions of their solutions. Video cameras pro-
vide real-time surveillance and forensic evidence in the event of
an incident. Access control systems enable the locking and un-
locking of doors.
Automated license plate readers (ALPR) are mostly used to
identify vehicles permitted to park in specific areas. At other times
ALPR may help identify vehicles of interest and their movements
on campus. In either instance, it is most likely two different depart-
ments utilizing the same equipment and software.
On the surface, these tools perform their core functions to
keep students, faculty, and visitors safe. Behind the scenes, how-
ever, they also gather valuable data. When shared with other de-
partments, this data provides insights that enhance operational
efficiency, resource allocation, and strategic planning.
There are a few ways that you can achieve this, and it starts
by assessing what you already have.
A P P LY I N G S E C U R I T Y D ATA I N H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N
Consider your university’s performing arts center. You might find a
handful of surveillance cameras installed around the building and
inside the main hallways. You may have installed these cameras to
monitor for potential threats or act as a crime deterrent.
Now imagine yourself as an attendee of a show at the per-
forming arts center, and it’s intermission. You have 15 minutes to
grab a snack at one of the four concession stands; the lines look
long, and time is tight. What if the same hallway cameras used
for security could also track the length of each line using a crowd
estimation (people counting) tool? A video announcement could
inform you that concession stand 1, line 3, has the shortest wait time.
This wouldn’t only improve the flow
of people and improve the overall expe-
rience but also increase sales for the fine
arts department. Now, an original security
investment becomes an interest for the
fine arts department as it contributes to
their bottom line. You can begin to visu-
alize other applications of your security
system across campus.
T H E T O O L O F T H E T R A D E
A unified platform can aggregate and synthesize security data,
helping promote productivity, communication, and collabora-
tion. It brings multiple data sources together within one interface.
A unified security solution is different from one that merely
integrates different systems. An integrated system requires con-
necting, upgrading, and maintaining different systems. Sometimes
those connections can break. A unified system, in contrast, is de-
veloped as one unit with different modules that can be switched
on or off as needed.
It also simplifies the use and visualization of security data.
This is critical to break the silos and create a cohesive approach
to campus management. You can customize reports, charts, and
graphs for each department, but maintain a single source of data.
T H E B E N E F I T S O F D ATA S H A R I N G
Armed with your security data and their related insights, you’re
ready to collaborate with other department heads. Gaining their
buy-in is essential, as many view security as a cost center rather than
a value driver. You can change this notion by demonstrating how
an investment in security also directly supports their unique goals.
Start by letting your other department heads know what tools
your security team already has available. It could be existing secu-
rity cameras installed in the performing arts building. Or a report
identifying the school’s underutilized parking lots. Next, focus on
highlighting their return on investment (ROI). Every department
wants assurance that their investment will yield tangible benefits.
This is where your security data proves its value.
Cross-department collaboration benefits your security team,
too. By demonstrating how security data aligns with other campus
objectives, you open the door to shared budgets and resources.
You also save on the resources required to manage security as se-
curity integrates into the larger campus framework. When other
departments use your data to meet their own goals, they become
invested in maintaining the systems that generate data.
S E C U R I T Y D ATA AS A N I N V E S T M E N T
In today’s campus environments, the role of security data has
evolved beyond forensics and real-time monitoring. However,
most schools don’t have the right tools to access and assess the
wealth of data available to them. You can gather key insights that
support broader campus operations by using a unified platform
designed to do just that. These insights fuel collaboration across
teams, uniquely positioning security as a campus-wide investment.
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