Best Practices for A Holistic Approach to Video Solutions in Campus Security
- By Bruce Canal
- July 16, 2024
Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems.
A holistic approach to security recognizes the importance of strategic planning and deployment of surveillance systems, as well as integrating these technologies with behavioral and environmental security measures. It also involves the development of policies and procedures to ensure adherence to privacy regulations, robust data management practices, and thorough training. Such a system is dynamic, too, embracing a commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement as technology evolves and new risks emerge.
To put it simply, a comprehensive approach recognizes that the system is stronger when every part of it works cohesively. The focus isn’t so much on the technology itself, but on what it can do for you. Start by identifying the problems you need to solve or the outcomes you hope to achieve, and then consider what combination of solutions is most effective.
Multiple Components Working Together
Most K-12 schools today establish a single point of entry for visitors and assign reception staff to respond to access requests. Video cameras are often installed at main entrances to ensure there’s a record of who comes in or out of the school. A holistic approach recognizes that the camera is only one piece of the puzzle. The human element and other technology components also play a part in keeping the building secure. A school may have a top-of-the-line door security system installed. However, if the receptionist door buzzes in visitors without fully vetting them first, the system isn’t as effective.
For a more thorough approach, make sure you not only have the right technologies in place but also train staff and stakeholders. They need to be empowered to play their part in keeping the building secure. Help students and teachers understand why they shouldn’t prop open doors or let someone in when they knock at the back door. Receptionists should be trained on what to do when they’re not sure if someone can be allowed in.
Security technologies, behavioral interventions, and environmental design work together to improve campus safety. Instead of defaulting to adding more cameras when there’s a security concern, consider repositioning cameras for more effective coverage or adding lighting or pruning shrubbery for a clearer view.
Combining Video Solutions With Other Systems
Sometimes a camera is not the best solution. For example, if your school has a problem with students vaping in bathrooms, privacy concerns would rule out adding a camera inside the bathroom to deter vaping. A better option may be to install a sensor that can detect vaping emissions. However, a hallway camera could also be installed and programmed to turn toward the door when the sensor sends an alert. Thus, school officials can see who exits the bathroom after the alert.
Door alarms due to propped or forced doors are often not an emergency. However, when nuisance alarms occur frequently, security teams may mistakenly dismiss the signs when there’s a real problem.
To alleviate this issue, a comprehensive approach can employ video surveillance to complement the access control system. Nearby cameras automatically turn toward the door when an alarm goes off. The system could even be designed to send different kinds of alerts or notifications depending on what the camera sees.
If video analytics detect a person entering after hours, perhaps local police should be alerted. However, if the same door repeatedly doesn’t close due to a maintenance issue, a facility team member could be notified. Likewise, the video may show students or teachers using a chair to hold open the door for their convenience. Your team could let them know this is causing an alarm.
Video Analytics for Powerful Insights
If there is a problem with vandalism after hours, consider video analytics as a powerful tool to assess and deter problematic behavior. With today’s technology, you can program your system to ignore people who walk near an area but notify security if they pause for longer than a few minutes or cross a digital perimeter. The system may also trigger an announcement via a speaker to leave the premises or risk trespassing charges. Your security system can then track where trespassers go on campus and send real-time alerts if they enter high-security areas, if a weapon is detected, and so on.
Some schools are also adding gun detection video analytics. These can be used in combination with workflow automations in a unified software solution to alert police when a firearm is detected on campus. In an active assailant event, every second counts, and an early alert could be lifesaving.
A Layered Approach to Security
When you’re ready to upgrade your campus security systems, take an assessment of your needs and requirements. You don’t need to be an expert in security technology. Your integrators and technology partners can help you explore your options for software and hardware. What you do need to know before you start shopping is to determine what you hope to accomplish with your investment in technology.
It’s important to begin with a threat assessment so you have a clear sense of what risks you need to mitigate and what other requirements you have for your system. When you have a clear understanding of the challenges and risks you’re facing, you can work with technology partners and community stakeholders to explore the different ways to solve those problems.
A layered approach to security is ideal. This includes developing policies and procedures that clearly describe the roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders, including staff, administrators, visitors, students, and community partners. Consider also how you’ll communicate these roles and responsibilities and what kind of training or practice drills you might need to implement.
Another layer of security to consider is the environmental design around the perimeter of your campus. Are pathways well-lit? Are there any dark or hidden areas? Do cameras have clear lines of sight? Your perimeter protection measures could also include using sensors or video analytics to alert security when a person is detected in sensitive areas after hours.
Holistic planning also includes emergency management. Whether you’re planning for natural disasters or other emergency events, your threat assessment team should consider how policies and procedures, training, environment, security technology, and community partnerships could play a role in protecting your campus.
Why a Unified Security Solution is Key
Departments are often siloed across campuses, which leads to redundant work and slower response times. A unified security solution gives campus police oversight across all facilities and the ability to efficiently respond to emerging threats.
With a unified solution, all aspects of your security system are managed in the same place, from video surveillance to access control, evidence management, and more. Data from all systems is gathered and combined to reveal new insights. Workflow automations can include triggers and actions from any part of your system.
A unified security solution is different from one that merely integrates different systems. An integrated system requires connecting, upgrading, and maintaining different systems. Sometimes those connections can break. A unified system, in contrast, is developed as one unit with different modules that can be switched on or off as needed.
To ensure your security solution meets tomorrow’s needs as well as today’s requirements, choose a non-proprietary, open architecture solution. This will give you the most flexibility to add new hardware as your needs change and technology evolves. A unified security platform that is built on open architecture means you can choose from a long list of hardware and software tools, which you can see and manage from a single interface.
When all your physical security activities, functions, and data originate from within the same system, you can harness the flow of data across your security activities. This makes it easier and more efficient to secure people, buildings, and assets while also supporting operational efficiencies.
This article originally appeared in the July / August 2024 issue of Campus Security Today.