Security Technology Executive

FEB-MAR 2016

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February/March 2016 • SECURITY TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE 17 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com coming and going. Generally, schools should select a front door location that is easily super- vised to provide more control over who should – and shouldn't – enter the building. This entrance should be clearly marked and direct guests to a visitor management center. • Improve visitor entry management by creating a vestibule. This adds an additional layer of perimeter security to automatically funnel visitors in the main office before allowing them access to other parts of the school. Vestibules should be closely monitored, particularly when students arrive in the morning. Once classes begin, the school is locked and visitors must verify their identity prior to entering the school. This is oftentimes achieved with an intercom system, camera, window film and pass-through drawers. • Deploy electronic access control. Whether stand-alone or networked, hard-wired or wire- less, electronic access control helps schools monitor who has accessed a door and when providing enhanced security. Implementing ID badges for staff and personnel is a widely adopted solution, with more than 85 percent of districts requiring all visitors to sign in and receive a badge. The tragic school shooting like those at Sandy Hook Elementary has made campus security and safety a top priority for security and law enforcement professionals. (Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) Enhance visibility by incorporating natural surveillance. This solution is a core component of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a multi-disciplinar y approach to preventing crime through the thoughtful design of an environment, and can be imple- mented in phases to meet a school's bud- gets. Natural surveillance helps to maximize visibility. For example, placing the school's front office right at the entrance allows staff to easily see who is at the front door. This can be further improved with an access con- trol system that utilizes security solutions like digital video cameras and an intercom with a microphone that is linked to a buzzer in the main office. Stress value-added services like school security self-assessments and grant funding information Integrators should demonstrate how their expertise goes beyond products and stress value-added ser vices. For example, school assessments can evaluate the school's risk and what next steps are achievable within a given budget.

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