Security is a subject that K-12 schools are studying a lot more closely over recent years. The need to better protect their students and staff has become indisputable, particularly in light of the escalating number of school shooting incidents and other acts of violence taking place in our nation’s schools. Many school districts are prioritizing security, and aligning budgets to enhance safety in their facilities. To reinforce the safeguards that a robust access control system can provide, many
K-12 schools are also implementing modernized video surveillance solutions, as well.
Video surveillance technologies and capabilities have come a long way since the early days of CCTV and analog cameras. Today’s now commonplace IP-based cameras leverage network infrastructure to record images and events in high definition. This improved image quality enables schools’ security staff to monitor and identify intruders with much greater accuracy. These cameras are also helping schools keep a closer eye on their parking lots and playgrounds, capturing real time events as they occur and storing them for future review, if needed.
A huge technological leap in recent years has been the availability of surveillance cameras equipped with powerful video analytics capabilities. They offer an extensive range of advantages that surpass traditional security monitoring. They can, for example, automatically identify suspicious behavior, unauthorized access, or unusual activity and trigger alerts in real time. Features like facial recognition, object detection, and the ability to detect and flag unusual or suspicious behavior are also instrumental in warding off incidents. In addition, smart search capabilities allow security teams to quickly locate pertinent footage based on specific criteria which, particularly in an emergency situation, is especially important.
Also important to a K-12 school’s security arsenal is a robust Video Management Systems (VMS). It enables administrators and security teams to easily control cameras and their settings and have quick and easy access to footage via one centralized dashboard. Today’s video management system enables live video streaming with motion detection and instant alerts for security events. Offering user access controls, role-based permissions can be assigned that restrict who can access video footage. Equipped with failover mechanisms and automatic backup capabilities, data is never lost. And today’s VMS solutions can be deployed and
accessed remotely to allow for real-time monitoring and response from anywhere using a mobile device, phone, or Web browser.
Another key component of a K-12 school’s security strategy is the use of video intercoms. They’re playing an important part in protecting students and staff; they empower school personnel to actually see the visitor looking to enter the building and speak with them before deciding to deny or grant access, which is done easily with the push of a button.
Call on NextGen to learn more about how our state-of-the-art video surveillance systems offer a watchful eye over school premises, deter potential threats and provide real-time monitoring. Our advanced cameras and analytics technology work together to enhance situational awareness, aiding in the prevention of incidents and the swift resolution of security concerns.