AJ Frazer, Chief Revenue Officer, Irisity examines the unique security challenges faced by US schools, and how AI-based video solutions can support in creating a secure and safe environment for staff and students.
AJ Frazer, Chief Revenue Officer, Irisity
K-12 schools encounter a unique challenge within today’s threat landscape. While colleges and universities often have internal police and security units, grade school administrators and county officials are not well-equipped to handle modern security challenges.
Over the last decade, educational facilities across the globe have developed into “soft targets” for those who wish to harm, such as active shooters or vandals. As an outcome, more robust and comprehensive security technology is being implemented, and reaction strategies are continually reassessed. Video surveillance has emerged as a critical technology, but without dedicated staff to support and manage the systems, the advantages are low to none.
Traditionally, schools functioned as open learning environments where students, faculty, and staff freely entered and departed. Students arrived and left without extreme security screening. However, securing a young, vulnerable subset of the population – one continuously increasing in size and complexity – is increasingly tricky as the challenges and troubles schools face become more unforeseen each year.
In episode 7 of the IFSEC Global Security in Focus podcast, we spoke to Marisa Randazzo about her research into the behavioural psychology and patterns behind school shootings in the United States. Have a listen, below.
Intelligent security empowers schools to know what is happening on campus at any given moment—presenting facilities with the opportunity to stop threats like vandalism or school fights before they occur. However, updating security infrastructure with intelligent solutions does not provide an ethical solution if data is not being protected. Educational facilities must seek solutions that detect suspicious activity rather than exposing personal identity. Using advanced technology that allows for the protection of staff and students is not only more ethical but provides an overall safer environment for all individuals. Additionally, seeking out surveillance solutions with patented anonymisation technology that complies with privacy regulations, is scalable and efficient, and promotes safe and ethical security.