School Security Systems & Physical Security for Campuses

While crime and violence on campuses have been trending downward since about 2006, crime has increased markedly over the past two years, equaling or beating pre-pandemic levels. A survey of more than 6,000 academic institutions showed a nearly 8% increase in crime between 2019 and 2022, even though enrollment dropped during this period. Since 2000, there have been more than 200 people killed and more than 185 injured in school shootings in the U.S.

More common crimes like motor vehicle theft, burglary, aggravated assault, and sexual offenses have all increased over the past few years.

School security in higher education is paramount, and complex. When you think about modern college and university campuses, you realize that they are made up of more than just classrooms. They are cities unto themselves, where thousands of students, faculty, and others live, work, and interact on a daily basis for extended hours. This creates unique challenges that require technology solutions and physical security. Installing security alarms is not enough.

What Are School Security Systems?

Comprehensive security systems in schools include technology, but they focus on a more holistic approach to provide a multi-layer approach to security. Installing 24/7 cameras and an alarm system is critical, as is hiring security guards and security teams, but school administrators must also create a culture of safety that is part of everyday campus life.

Types of School Security Technologies

Campus security professionals employ technology in a variety of ways to help manage visitor flow and monitor what’s happening. High-resolution video surveillance equipment is an important aspect of school security systems.

Video Surveillance Systems

Modern CCTV camera systems go beyond just relaying real-time video and recording. Today’s technology can incorporate a wide array of software, leveraging AI and machine learning. For example, school surveillance systems can be trained to recognize suspicious activity and provide real-time alerts for human intervention. Some video surveillance cameras include artificial intelligence that can analyze license plates on vehicles to look for unauthorized access.

In addition, although it raises privacy concerns, facial recognition can help monitor students and staff and identify intruders that do not belong in a campus setting.

Types of Security Cameras

There are several common types of school security cameras, including:

• Fixed cameras: These are installed in a set position and are ideal for monitoring specific areas consistently, such as entry points, common areas, and sports fields.
• Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras: Offering more flexibility, these cameras for schools can be remotely controlled to cover a wider area and record video footage.
• Multi-sensor cameras: These provide 360-degree coverage and are excellent for open spaces like quads or parking lots.
• Thermal cameras: Useful for detecting heat signatures, these can be valuable for perimeter security, especially in low-light conditions.

Benefits of Video Surveillance

The primary benefit of 24/7 cameras in schools is that they deter crime and document criminal activity. However, there are other benefits too, including:

• Real-time monitoring of campus activity
• Assistance in emergency response coordination
• Evidentiary footage to aid in incident investigations
• Greater overall sense of safety among students and staff

Access Control Solutions

Campuses are in nearly constant motion. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors come and go at all hours of the day (and night). Access control systems manage entry into college and university buildings and restrict access to authorized individuals only, helping with visitor management.

Access control provides another layer of security. Different types of access control security systems can help security teams manage school perimeters and access to school buildings.

Door Access Technologies

Below are three common types of door access technologies:

• Key card systems: Students and staff use cards with magnetic strips or RFID chips to gain entry.
• Mobile access: Increasingly popular, these systems allow users to enter school buildings using their smartphones.
• Biometric systems: These use unique physical characteristics like fingerprints or retinal scans to restrict access to sensitive areas.

Advanced Access Solutions

More advanced access solutions often combine key cards or mobile access with video surveillance for visual verification. In some cases, where a documented surveillance camera policy is in place, there may be someone who screens building visitors to determine whether they have valid reasons to enter.

Schools are also applying time-based solutions—for example, restricting access to classrooms or buildings during non-school hours.

Given the concerns about mass shootings or active shooters, many campuses have instituted automated campus-wide lockdown capabilities to deal with emergency situations, including remote triggers for school door locks. Schools may also have automated email alerts or text messages for major incidents, as well as smart locks on doors.

Security Lighting

Lighting increases visibility and reduces blind spots, making it harder for someone to access your property undetected. It can also help prevent accidents or hazards at night by lighting up pathways.

Lighting in parking lots, building entrances, common areas, and other campus areas can help act as a deterrent to malicious activity.

Cybersecurity for Schools

School sites make attractive targets for cybercriminals and hackers due to the vast amount of personal and research data they store. A study of 3,000 IT professionals at schools revealed that 80% had been hit by ransomware in 2023. Another study showed a 105% increase in cybercrime in the education sectors versus 2022.

Educational institutions must adhere to strict governance policies to protect data and implement a variety of cybersecurity measures, such as:

• Multi-factor authentication and strong passwords
• Next-generation firewalls with real-time threat intelligence
• Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) principles
• Sophisticated intrusion detection systems
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Comprehensive data encryption policies

School security system providers should also conduct ongoing cybersecurity awareness training for everyone who accesses campus networks or digital resources.

Human Elements in School Security

While technology plays an important role in keeping campuses safe, people remain the foundation of effective security. School staff, students, and security personnel are all key when it comes to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for students.

Role of Security Personnel

Just the presence of security personnel and guards on school premises can deter crime and help keep students safe during and after school hours. Security solutions for schools should include making security experts available on school grounds with regular patrols.

Visibility plays a big role in keeping students, staff, and visitors safe. When security professionals are seen regularly , everyone feels more comfortable because they know that someone is looking out for them. Students are more likely to interact with security teams and report suspicious or unusual behavior, especially when they are wearing high-visibility uniforms or jackets. For example, wearing fluorescent yellow uniforms are highly visible and can be seen easily even at night.

Hiring Qualified Security Teams

Many colleges and universities augment campus police with education sector security services. These include highly trained security guards, mobile patrols, crowd management, and emergency response.

Having guards on school premises is a key part of security solutions for schools that goes a long way toward ensuring students' safety.

When staffing internal campus security teams, private and public schools should prioritize the following:

• Relevant experience in law enforcement or security
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse populations, such as women, LGBTQIA2S+, etc.
• Problem-solving abilities and good judgment
• Familiarity with higher education environments

Candidates should undergo a thorough screening process that includes background and criminal checks. It helps if they have been specifically trained in emergency preparedness.

Training and Development Programs

Training and development programs ensure that security personnel stay up-to-date with the latest protocols and are prepared for a wide range of scenarios. For instance, regular updates on security protocols and emergency procedures keep the team aligned with best practices and ready to respond to evolving threats. This might involve quarterly seminars where procedures are reviewed and practiced through role-playing exercises.

Equally important are conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques, which are essential in a diverse campus environment. A security officer needs training to be able to effectively defuse situations with communication and empathy. These skills must also be paired with cultural sensitivity and bias awareness training to help security staff navigate the complex social dynamics of a modern college campus.

Practical skills like first aid and CPR certification ensure that school security teams can provide immediate assistance in medical emergencies. This training often includes hands-on practice sessions and regular recertification to keep skills sharp.

School security solutions should also include active shooter training to prepare the team for one of the most critical threats in today's educational landscape. This intensive training might involve simulated scenarios, coordination with local law enforcement and security experts, and ongoing drills to maintain readiness.

There is also training on recognizing and dealing with bullying, sexual violence, and sexual harassment.

Involving School Staff

Whether you are dealing with higher education institutions, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, or school districts, security systems must include campus staff, who all have a role to play in maintaining a safe environment. Campus security takes a collective effort and a collaborative approach.

Staff Training on Security Protocols

Comprehensive training programs equip all staff members with essential skills and knowledge. For example, basic emergency response procedures can be taught through interactive workshops, where staff practice scenarios like fire evacuations or medical emergencies. These sessions seamlessly transition into training on recognizing and reporting suspicious activities, which empowers staff to be proactive in campus safety.

Understanding access control policies is another vital aspect of staff training. This might involve hands-on demonstrations of card access systems or briefings (and reminders) on visitor management protocols. Proper handling of sensitive information, increasingly important in our digital age, is often addressed through cybersecurity awareness programs tailored to different staff roles.

In particular, staff should know:

• Evacuation procedures and assembly points
• Communication protocols during crises
• Specific responsibilities based on their position and/or location
• How to assist students or keep visitors safe during emergencies

The safety of students is paramount and high awareness of behaviors and activity that indicate potential problems is key.

Roles and Responsibilities in Emergencies

When an emergency occurs, time is of the essence. Staff must know how to respond during a crisis. This includes understanding protocols for various incidents on campus, evacuation and lockdown procedures, and response plans for critical events.

Students will look to educators and staff in a crisis for guidance. A well-documented campus security plan will define roles and responsibilities so that staff can react quickly and appropriately. Training will help here, too. Everyone should know the appropriate actions to take.

Student Participation

Besides staff training, student participation is essential as well to create a secure campus environment. When students understand their role in keeping each other safe, they are more likely to report suspicious activity.

Educating Students on Security Awareness

Educating students on safety and security awareness is an ongoing process. It should start with orientation and continue throughout their time on campus.

Personal safety practices, both on and off campus, can be emphasized through workshops and online modules. These might cover topics like safe transportation options, responsible social media use, and awareness of one's surroundings.

Students should also be trained in the responsible use of access control systems and understand that their adherence to these protocols directly impacts campus security.

Encouraging Student Reporting of Suspicious Activities

Recognizing potential threats or suspicious behavior is another focus of student education. Training might involve scenario-based sessions where students learn to identify and respond to various security concerns, from theft prevention to more serious security threats.

Many campuses have implemented user-friendly reporting systems, such as mobile apps that allow students to quickly and discreetly report concerns. The anonymity of these systems is often highlighted to encourage reporting without fear of repercussions.

Regular communication about the importance of reporting should be integrated into campus life through various channels, from social media campaigns to in-person reminders during campus events.

When incidents occur, it is important to share outcomes. Reporting shows transparency while maintaining privacy, helping to reinforce the value of student participation in campus security.

Operational Management of School Security

The effective management of campus security operations is a complex task that requires meticulous planning, coordination, and execution. At its core, operational management ensures that all elements of the campus security system work in harmony to create a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Daily Security Operations

Daily security operations form the backbone of campus safety, comprising a variety of tasks that must be fully integrated to provide comprehensive protection.

Security personnel conduct regular patrols, monitor surveillance systems, manage access control points, and respond to various incidents throughout the day with the help of security management platforms.

Use of Security Management Platforms

These platforms serve as the central nervous system of campus security, integrating various technologies and streamlining operations. For instance, a modern security management platform might combine video surveillance feeds, access control data, and emergency communication systems into a single, user-friendly interface. This integration allows security personnel to have a real-time, holistic view of campus safety, enabling quicker response times and more informed decision-making.

Consider a scenario where an unauthorized access attempt is detected at a restricted laboratory. The security management platform would immediately alert the security team, provide visual confirmation through linked camera feeds, and offer options for remote lockdown or dispatch of personnel. This seamless integration of various security elements significantly enhances the effectiveness of daily operations.

Emergency Response and Lockdown Procedures

These procedures are critical components of operational management that require meticulous planning and regular practice. They outline step-by-step protocols for various emergency scenarios, from natural disasters to active shooter situations. The key is to develop clear, concise procedures that can be quickly implemented under stress.

For example, a campus-wide lockdown procedure might involve:

• Activation of the emergency notification system
• Immediate locking of all external doors through the access control system
• Deployment of security personnel to predetermined positions
• Communication with local law enforcement and emergency services

Regular drills and simulations help refine these procedures and ensure that all staff and students are familiar with their roles during an emergency. These exercises also provide valuable opportunities to test the integration of various security systems and identify areas for improvement.

Maintenance and Training

The effectiveness of any security system is only as good as its maintenance and the proficiency of those operating it.

Regular Maintenance Schedules

Regular maintenance schedules are crucial to ensure that all security equipment, from surveillance cameras to emergency communication systems, is functioning optimally. They constitute a proactive approach helps prevent system failures during critical moments and extends the lifespan of security investments.

A comprehensive maintenance program might include:

• Weekly checks of all surveillance cameras for proper positioning and clarity
• Monthly testing of access control systems and door locks
• Quarterly inspections of emergency communication equipment
• Annual audits of cybersecurity measures and software updates

Students must be able to trust that equipment works in an emergency. If a campus has strategically located call boxes where students can call for help, they must be checked regularly to ensure they are in working order.

Training for Security Systems

As technology evolves, so must the skills of those operating these systems. Regular training sessions ensure that security personnel are proficient in using the latest features of security management platforms, surveillance systems, and emergency response tools.

If a facial recognition feature were to be added to the campus surveillance system, training sessions would need to cover the technical aspects of using the software and the ethical considerations and privacy policies associated with its use. This comprehensive approach to training ensures that security personnel are technologically proficient and mindful of the broader implications of their work.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement in Security

College campuses and school campuses benefit when everyone is engaged in security.

Building a Security Culture

One effective way to build this culture is through regular security awareness campaigns. These might include interactive workshops, online modules, and even gamified learning experiences that engage students and staff in security best practices.

For example, a "Security Awareness Week" could feature daily challenges that encourage participants to spot potential security risks around campus, with prizes for the most observant individuals or teams.

Proactive Security and Prevention

Students, staff, faculty, and administrators must feel safe across the entire campus. Being proactive is essential.

Preventative Security Measures

For example, conducting campus security assessments can uncover gaps and blind spots in safety plans. A security audit from independent consultants will provide a detailed report and an action plan to significantly reduce risks and liability.

Schools should also develop programs that address common risks, such as comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse prevention programs.

Another preventative security strategy that is becoming more popular is the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) movement. In campus settings, CPTED principles can enhance safety without detracting from the open atmosphere of a college campus.

Key principles include:

• Natural surveillance: Maximizing visibility through strategic placement and design. This enhances safety by increasing the likelihood that potential offenders will be observed.
• Natural access control: Guiding people through spaces using strategic design elements. This approach subtly directs foot traffic and limits access to sensitive areas without obvious barriers.
• Territorial reinforcement: Using design to create a sense of ownership and community. This principle helps define spaces and encourages legitimate users to take responsibility for their environment.
• Maintenance: Keeping the campus well maintained and quickly addressing any signs of neglect. Regular upkeep demonstrates active management and discourages criminal activity by signaling that the area is cared for and monitored.

In practice, CPTED might include strategies such as positioning buildings to overlook main campus thoroughfares and employing large windows to increase natural surveillance.

Community Involvement and Awareness

Campuses are typically communities within larger communities. Since students and staff also go off-campus, school safety systems must engage city leaders and law enforcement personnel in fostering a shared sense of responsibility. For example, discussing proper protocols and coordination with a community’s police leadership and Director of Public Safety can help build better relationships.

Other ideas include:

• Hosting town hall meetings to discuss campus safety initiatives and gather community input
• Collaborating with local neighborhood watch programs
• Partnering with local businesses to enhance off-campus student safety
• Engaging alumni in supporting and funding security initiatives

For example, a school might work with local coffee shops and restaurants popular among students to create "safe havens"—places where students can seek assistance if they feel unsafe while off-campus. This kind of community partnership extends the reach of campus security beyond physical boundaries and demonstrates a commitment to student safety that will reassure parents and prospective students alike.

Conclusion

Maintaining a safe and secure environment requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach. While technology is part of the solution, security guards and security personnel, training and awareness, and proactive measures are equally important. Schools can foster safe education environments by empowering staff, students, and community members to actively contribute to a security culture.

GardaWorld offers security solutions specifically designed for the education sector to help create safe and inclusive learning environments. We work closely with campus authorities to design flexible and sustainable security programs that meet their specific security needs and concerns. Talk to one of our school security experts today.