Boost Your Educational Facility Physical Security IQ

Educational Facility Physical Security

Today, educational facilities of all types made boosting their educational facility physical security a top priority. However, for educational facility physical security to be effective, there needs to be a culture of physical security awareness that is embraced by staff and students alike.

Admittedly, educational facility physical security technologies are advancing rapidly and it is near impossible to keep up unless you are in the industry. When it concerns safety, though, the more you know the better.

Here are some important facts to help you increase your educational facility physical security awareness, and campus safety.

Educational Facility Physical Security Isn’t Just About Intrusion Alarms

Physical security isn’t just intrusion alarms and access control. When you think of physical security, you should think of all of the many different elements that work together to provide a safer and more secure space. These elements include systems such as access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, fire alarms, as well as mass notification and emergency communication systems. It can also include locks, lights, environmental design, and environmental barriers.

Basic Objectives of Physical Security Elements

  • Obstacles such as fences, gated entry, vehicle barriers, and vehicle height restrictors, to disturb and delay the action of trivial attackers.
  • The removal of physical elements that hinder vision and provides cover, such as tall bushes and large decorative items.
  • Detection systems to discover ongoing intrusion attempts. This includes CCTV surveillance systems, alarms, security patrols, and security lighting.
  • Security response system to repel or catch the intruders.
  • Emergency response and mass communication systems to communicate information and directions swiftly in an emergency or crisis.

Human Interaction in Physical Security

One of the biggest problems in security is always human interaction. Very often, it is a lack of physical security awareness that causes breaches in even the best and most layered security plans and approaches. This is why it is so important to develop and maintain a culture of security awareness. Everyone that enters the campus should understand the basics of security to help keep themselves, others, and the campus free from harm.

Here are some simple ways to encourage positive security habits:

  • Report lighting outages
  • Never hold the door open to non-authorized visitors
  • Never prop open doors or windows
  • Refrain from loaning, sharing, or making copies of keys
  • Ensure that pertinent staff knows how to work security system elements
  • Have security drills regularly
  • Develop a disaster/crisis plan

Threats are Changing, but so is Physical Security

Educational facilities are increasingly targets of crimes, and no facility should be considered exempt from the possibility of crime and violence. However, just as the threats are becoming more sophisticated, so are the technologies to combat them. Whereas once out of reach for all but the largest and most funded institutions, today, advanced security technologies such as access control, gunshot detection, mass communication, and more are widely and affordably available to directly address campus crimes. It is important for any campus considering security to talk to a professional that is well versed in campus physical security technologies to get a proper assessment and recommendation.

Contact SSP Now! For more information about physical security systems for educational facilities, please contact us today! Headquartered near Atlanta, Georgia, we offer design, installation and service to local, regional and national clients. Call us today for more information! 1-888-540-0175