Security Cameras in Schools: How to Create Safer Environments Without Costly Upgrades

As video security technology advances, schools and universities must find ways to upgrade their security while balancing their budget. 

Having to rip and replace video systems for multiple buildings throughout a district or campus is not only incredibly expensive but also time-consuming. Having your video security down while a new one is put in means large periods of time without your video security, which can not only create an unsafe learning environment for your students but also affect security operations as a whole. To combat this, leveraging your existing cameras with a retrofit recording solution can not only save you money but also speed up the process of upgrading your security. 

In this article, we’ll cover how retrofitting can save you time and labor while creating a more powerful security platform. 

How to Leverage Existing Systems in Classrooms to Avoid Installation Downtime  

Open platform cloud video systems give you the benefits of cloud-managed video while making the switch to a new platform easier. 

Chances are your school or university already has a deeply rooted security infrastructure that includes:  

• Cameras 
• Recorders 
• Access control 
• Gunshot detection 
• Intrusion detection 
• Environmental sensors 

Leveraging those existing systems while still enhancing them with cloud-managed video can save you money and valuable time. With retrofitting, there’s no need to replace every aspect of the system to work with your cloud platform. An open ecosystem lets you keep your hardware, while also keeping the door open if you choose to scale or replace cameras, recorders, or other integrated systems. 

An open ecosystem also allows you to integrate other devices more easily. If your campus is a nicotine-free area and you want to ensure students aren’t vaping in restrooms, you can pair your environmental sensors to alert you through your cloud video platform. Additionally, access control and intrusion detection integration can provide you with video verification during any access or intrusion events. This can simplify your surveillance architecture immensely and give you better insights into what’s happening around campus. 

Take Your Campus Security to the Next Level with Video Analytics 

Upgrading your on-campus security is aided tremendously with the integration of AI-powered video analytics into your security platform. These analytics can recognize and identify behavior that is suspicious or prohibited, whether that’s loitering or entering restricted areas. 

A cloud video platform with server-side analytics can enable you to take advantage of this diverse technology without having to replace existing cameras with new analytics-equipped models. An open platform is not only cost-effective, but it also allows you to save time on the installation of brand-new cameras on campus.  

On the other hand, if your budget allows for cameras with analytics, then an open platform that can integrate with 3^rd party analytics is one of the best ways to utilize those. Cloud cameras offer the power of AI-based analytics with limitless scalability, so they can be deployed quickly into your system while giving you the opportunity to add more in the future. Additional analytics include License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, which can alert you to the presence of unwanted vehicles on campus so you can more proactively inform security or law enforcement. Being able to quickly identify or locate persons who are a threat to students on campus is key to notifying security and building a safer learning environment. 

These analytics can also be leveraged to analyze queue lines in cafeterias or campus stores so you can streamline speed-of-service in those areas for better workplace efficiency. Heat mapping, another analytic capability, can be used to identify where students are congregating to ensure your stores, cafeterias, and other areas are arranged in the most optimal, student-friendly fashion. 

Saving Time and Money with Cloud-Managed Video for Schools and Universities  

Cloud-managed video can dramatically impact operations in many positive ways by streamlining campus operations, including: 

• Remote Access 
• Centralized Management 
• Live Search 
• Video Export & Sharing 

When paired with your existing security systems, a complete cloud video platform can equip you with an end-to-end solution. Cloud video platforms offer remote management to users, meaning surveillance footage can be pulled up without having to be on-site. If your security team is moving throughout campus or is off-site, the ability to pull up live video or recorded footage can enable more proactive response to critical events. Alerts can also be managed through cloud video platforms, which can notify security or law enforcement via push notifications for mobile and email. 

Because cloud-managed video enables a more streamlined approach to accessing surveillance footage, campus IT operators can enjoy reduced administrative burden. Centralized management allows user permissions or software issues to be dealt with without having to be physically on-site. Cloud video software is also automatically updated, so there’s no need to manually apply the latest version. This reduces the amount of time IT needs to spend on menial administrative tasks so they can devote their expertise to more pressing sides of the security software. 

Overall, cloud-managed video can significantly streamline university operations while increasing the overall security of the campus, creating more opportunities for university resources to be devoted to other sides of your institution. 

See How OpenEye Web Services Can Help Fortify Campus Safety 

OpenEye Web Services (OWS) cloud video platform can help schools everywhere meet the security needs of today and tomorrow. 

OpenEye’s retrofitting options help institutions leverage their existing security systems by working through our open ecosystem. OWS can integrate with existing security measures for a complete, end-to-end solution, so you can upgrade your video security for the needs of today while leaving the door open for future upgrades. 

Book a demo with OpenEye now to see OWS in action and to learn more about how our cloud video platform equips educational institutions with advanced, powerful security.