Enhancing School Security: 3 Essential Tips

According to a recent National Center for Education Statistics survey, 19 in 1,000 students fall victim to a crime at school. As adults, educators, and role models, it’s our responsibility to protect the youth and ensure their valuable education isn’t interrupted by security issues.

How can schools enhance their security systems to ensure nothing slips past their defenses?

Keep reading as we explore the top tips and the three best practices for protecting school grounds and increasing safeguarding measures on campus.

Install Cloud-Based Access Control

Cloud-based access control is a much preferred solution for school security systems when compared to on-premise solutions. An on-premise system has the following disadvantages:

• Complex wiring infrastructure: To install door locks in an on-premise system, security teams must devise plans for complex wiring infrastructure to connect devices to main servers.
• Server storage: Server storage takes up a lot of space in an educational facility, space that can be better utilized for educational resources.
• Lack of visibility: Security staff and system administrators can only operate door locks and view security data from the server room, increasing the time to resolve security threats and respond effectively in emergencies.

A cloud-based system, on the other hand, provides the following advantages to streamline school security:

• Wireless: Not only do cloud-based access control readers communicate wirelessly, but they also allow for wireless and remote management. System administrators can manage door locks and view access logs from anywhere, and there’s no need to install complex wiring systems.
• Cloud-Based Servers: There is no need to dedicate entire rooms to server storage, as there are no servers in a cloud-based system.

One of the most significant advantages of cloud-based access control for schools is the potential to implement mobile access credentials. Schools spend significant amounts annually replacing keycards and fobs. 

With mobile access credentials, there’s no need to implement keycards – faculty and students can enter using downloadable access cards. This makes student security onboarding much more straightforward, as all they need to do is receive an email and follow the link to download their credentials.

By choosing this security system, a school also gains access to open API integrations that they can leverage to improve and enhance their security strategy,

Visitor Management Systems

Visitor management is a key facet of a safeguarding strategy. You must keep logs of any visitors entering the premises. With a mobile and cloud-based access control system, schools can automate the visitor management process to reduce the potential for human error—logbooks aren’t exactly a foolproof security plan. 

The visitor management system provides visitors with digital registration forms to fill out before entering the building. They can provide their contact information and verify their identities. 

Once they have done this, they will gain temporary access credentials to enter the grounds. If they have the right credentials, they will be able to roam the school independently, which is extremely useful for outsourced therapists and teaching aids.

Install Cloud-Based Security Cameras

Like cloud-based access control, cloud-based security cameras eliminate servers and complex wiring systems while providing open API integrations. System administrators and security staff can view security camera feeds from anywhere using a browser or mobile application to increase visibility.

Or, they can leverage the open API integrations of a cloud-based security system to automate threat detection. By integrating AI with a cloud-based security camera system, you can use behavior and object recognition to provide alerts based on security threats. 

For instance, if a weapon or act of violence is spotted on campus, system administrators will automatically receive an alert, allowing them to investigate and resolve the incident immediately. Since monitoring camera feeds and consistently maintaining concrete visibility is difficult, this is the only way to spot incidents early and increase the chance of containing security threats.

Establish Reporting Systems

When students feel unsafe on school grounds, they need reporting systems to let staff know they’re having difficulties. Providing online reporting systems for security threats or when students feel unsafe is the best way to encourage active reporting. 

You can even enable anonymous reporting, which allows students to report potential bomb threats, bullying, and suspicious activity on campus while feeling safe knowing their identity is protected. 

Summary

We, unfortunately, live in a world where schools aren’t a guaranteed safe space. From intruders to mass shooting events, schools are under threat. This is why drafting a foolproof security system is a top priority for educators so that students can gain an education without fearing violence or crime on the premises. Protecting our youth protects the future and allows parents to rest easy when sending their children to school.