Since 2005, there have been over 32 million leaks of individual records in schools. Schools are home to sensitive student data and must keep both students and their data secure.
With the threat of mass shootings, schools can ease students’ minds by investing in stringent security measures – providing a safer, more pleasant atmosphere for learning. Here we will explore how schools continue upgrading security for student safety with innovative technologies.
Top Security Upgrades For Student Safety
Security technology is at the heart of any school security strategy. Here are the latest technologies for school campuses.
Cloud-Based Access Control
Cloud-based access control is an increasingly popular solution among school campuses. It provides stringent security while reducing frequent keycard and fob replacement costs. Here are the main features on offer with cloud-based access control systems:
- Remote management – administrative tasks and unlocking doors can all be performed from anywhere with a cloud-based access control system. System administrators can easily check door lock status, lock doors, and unlock doors using a mobile application. They can also quickly onboard and offboard students and staff remotely for more efficient security management.
- Mobile credentials – keycard and fob replacements can incur hefty costs over time. Cloud-based access control reduces these costs by enabling mobile access credentials. Instead of using a keycard or fob, users can simply download a digital keycard to their mobile devices.
- Contactless entry – since the pandemic, hygiene on school premises has been a priority. Mobile credentials allow touchless entry to reduce the spread of germs and increase convenience. Users can enter the building by swiping their hand over the access control reader, triggering remote communication with their mobile devices.
- First-time entry – students won’t be left outside the facility due to failed entry attempts with a cloud-based access control system. It uses three modes of communication – WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular – to ensure entry on the first attempt.
With all these convenient features, it’s no wonder why cloud-based access control has become such a popular solution for school premises.
Visitor Management Software
In addition to offering a whole host of built-in features, cloud-based access control has open API integrations that facilitate visitor management software integration.
Visitor management isn’t simply an administrative issue on school campuses – it’s an essential part of safeguarding procedures.
School staff must keep an accurate log of visitors and their entry times to keep children safe. They must also log visitors for effective headcounts in the event of a fire – if you don’t know how many visitors are inside the building, you won’t know whether someone is trapped inside the school in an emergency.
Manual visitor management logbooks can be inaccurate, leading to poor visitor tracking. They aren’t reliable enough for stringent visitor tracking on school campuses.
Automating the visitor management process with visitor management software is an attractive option. Visitor management software integrates with access control to provide visitors with digital registration forms. Upon filling out these forms, visitors are granted temporary access credentials, allowing them to enter the building.
When their visit is complete, these credentials are automatically revoked. The system logs both their entry and exit times. This kind of accuracy is nearly impossible with a manual registration system.
Cloud-Based Video Security
In addition to adopting cloud-based access control systems, many schools are making use of cloud-based video security systems.
With traditional school security cameras, security staff must be in the monitor room to view the camera feed. This means that while attending to various on-site duties, they cannot see potential security threats.
An on-premise surveillance system serves primarily to document crimes for security investigations, and the presence of security cameras helps to deter criminals from attempting a crime. However, a cloud-based camera system with video analytics for schools increases the likelihood of surveillance being helpful in preventing crimes.
Security staff can maintain visibility on security cameras at all times with a convenient mobile application. They can remotely change camera angles and zoom in to investigate potential threats. Remote management is essential for proactive threat detection.
AI Threat Detection
In addition to offering remote visibility for security camera footage, a cloud-based video security system offers open API integrations. This allows security professionals to automate threat detection with AI. An AI software application can screen surveillance footage using object and behavior recognition. If a threat is detected, the system will trigger an alert to notify security staff, allowing them to act immediately and prevent the danger from evolving.
Alarm Systems
No school security system is complete without alarms – there should be intruder alarms, gunshot detectors, broken glass sensors, and carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are essential for schools to meet industry regulations and guidelines.
However, investing in extensive alarm systems will only enhance your security strategy – ensuring you’re always aware of potential security threats on site. With a cloud-based alarm system, you can receive a mobile alert to investigate the issue and determine whether evacuation is necessary.
Lockdown Systems
You can automate lockdown procedures by integrating your access control system and gunshot detectors. Lockdown protocols will initiate if a gunshot is picked up and confirmed on-site. All of the smart door locks in your facility will activate to contain the perpetrator and isolate the incident. Automation provides a fast-acting security response that could save lives in an emergency.
Summary
Is your school doing enough to combat the increased risk of the modern climate? Consider the security tools and technologies listed above and whether your current security strategy could be improved. Cloud-based technologies provide agility that simply cannot be achieved with on-premise security systems – and time is of the essence for effective security protocols.
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