Issue link: https://securitytechnologyexecutive.epubxp.com/i/656764
16 SECURITY TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE • February/March 2016 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com COVER STORY: CAMPUS SECURITY S afety has always been a concern for school offi- cials, but in December 2012, it was made all the more prevalent when an active shooter entered the Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 innocent people, 20 of which were children under the age of 8. Incidents like this one may be a rarity but are no less concerning and are motivating communities across the nation to take action and implement measures that can ensure classrooms stay safe. W hile the solution to incidents like this may seem simple – upgrade school security systems – it is a time-intensive process that involves many parties in order to gain the nec- essar y approvals and budgets. In fact, it can take 18 months or longer to solidify building upgrade projects, with the opinions and rec- ommendations of everyone from law enforcers and superintendents to teachers, parents and other community members coming into play. With schools facing day-to-day security issues like propped doors, multiple visitors, high staff turnover and competing budgets, they need resources and insights from professionals that truly understand the unique challenges of the K-12 space. Inte g rators can play a tremendous role in helping schools solve problems and look at school security holistically by assessing how space is used, how traffic flows, building codes, staff training and more. Beyond ser v- ing as a go-to resource for products, integra- tors can share comprehensive solutions and help schools understand their risks, immediate security needs and the procedures they need in place to provide optimum security. Following are the top security trends and technologies rising to the top of school dis- tricts' list – and how you can leverage these findings to better support K-12 schools. Start with the first point of entry Tight budget constraints in schools oftentimes force decision makers to implement security upgrades in phases, beginning with perimeter security and access management. As the first point of entry for an unwelcome intruder, it is always recommended to make the perimeter a top priority. Top best practices for improving a school's perimeter security include: • During school hours, establish a single point of entry. As students, teachers and staff enter in and out of the school, schools need to be able to closely monitor who is After Sandy Hook: Rising Security Trends and Best Practices You Should Know Recent events force schools to adopt emerging technologies and solutions to help overcome growing safety and security threats by Minu Youngkin