The Future of Campus Security – The Critical Role of Cybersecurity for Educational Institutions

The role of cybersecurity for schools is becoming more and more important to protect the private information of faculty and students.  

Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common for educational institutions; in 2023, 108 school districts reported they were attacked by hackers stealing student data and demanding ransom for the information, an over 100% increase from 48 in 2022. The danger this poses for these children goes beyond leaking sensitive information; hackers can steal and impersonate their identities and use that information to take out loans, rack up debt, and ruin the future credit of these students. The damage caused can be incredibly devastating, making it important for schools to implement thorough cybersecurity throughout their systems to defend against malicious cyber threats.  

Schools equipped with video security will need additional cybersecurity measures in place to protect surveillance footage of students and faculty members. As security systems are increasingly being managed via the cloud, it’s important for educational institutions to have properly defended security infrastructures to protect the information stored on these platforms. 

Learn more about why cybersecurity is becoming a prevalent part of the conversation surrounding school security below, as well as how to find the best video security solution to safeguard your students on and off campus. 

Security Solutions for Schools to Combat Hackers  

Analysis done by the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center showed that the number of disclosed attacks committed by hackers against US schools has grown from less than 100 in 2016 to nearly 400 by 2020. The threat against schools and the information they house on their students and staff is increasing exponentially, and it will continue to do so unless schools are equipped with the necessary defenses against these attacks. 

Video security has traditionally been used as a method for protecting students while on campus, whether that’s using video analytics and alerts to be notified of suspicious or hostile activity or using streamlined footage review to fast-track investigations into critical incidents. However, it is equally important to protect the security system itself from unauthorized video access or cyber attacks to ensure student privacy and the security of the campuses entire integrated network.   

When properly employed using recommended cybersecurity measures, a cloud video security system can not only be deployed without compromising the cybersecurity of your campus network, but it can also actually enhance it. 

Using Cloud-Managed Video Security for School Safety 

Cloud-managed video offers many benefits for school administrators everywhere. Conveniently being able to access your security footage remotely allows incidents to be handled without being on-site and can allow law enforcement or security to respond in timely manners to any situations that may occur on campus. 

These systems can also be equipped with video analytics to increase the overall surveillance on campus. If someone is loitering out in the parking lot or an unwanted vehicle has entered the premises, analytics can alert you to their presence so you can quickly deal with the situation. 

Open platform video systems can also integrate with your other solutions around campus, including environmental sensors and vape detectors. With these sensors in place, you’ll be able to easily enforce policies against vaping or smoking on campus by being alerted to any vape or smoke in the air around these sensors.  

However, hackers are always looking for ways to infiltrate these cloud systems, which is why your security solution must have the necessary systems implemented to protect it from unwanted access. 

How to Choose Secure Surveillance Systems for Schools 

Proper cybersecurity measures are crucial for a cloud video system, as they’ll ensure the data and sensitive information of your students and faculty is protected. With effective features in place, school security receives immense upgrades: 

Centralized Management for Secured User Permissions 

Centralized management allows for more easily managed and secured user permissions. If someone on your staff has left and should no longer have access to the system, centralized management can easily adjust user permissions and instantly apply those changes without having IT come on-site to adjust your security manually. User management can also be customized to only allow certain members of the faculty access to specific kinds of footage or information, meaning you can secure your data more easily if someone is a new hire or has restricted access.  

Two Step (or Multi-Factor) Authentication to Protect Sensitive Information 

Two step (or multi-factor) authentication can also eliminate any personnel who aren’t a part of faculty from accessing sensitive information by not only requiring a secure password to be put in but also an additional method of authentication, whether that’s through phone or email. 

Automated Software Updates to Ensure Latest Software Version is Installed 

Automated software updates ensure that your cloud video software always has the latest version installed, meaning any weaknesses in cybersecurity can be patched and fixed to continually provide a more secure solution.  

Identity Management Systems for Protected Platform Information 

Identity management systems can be integrated to protect the information on your platform by ensuring that only designated persons are given access.   

Password Protected Video Clip Export and Sharing for Streamlined Investigations 

Password protected video clip export and sharing not only allows you to quickly investigate suspicious or criminal activity, but also safeguards the video from unwanted access.  

Outbound Trusted Connection (OTC) for Reduced Risk 

An outbound trusted connection enables remote connectivity without the increased risk of port forwarding or punching holes in your firewall, eliminating the need for open inbound ports. 

Fully Encrypted Communication to Safeguard Data 

Fully encrypted communication safeguards your school’s data and information from any potential hackers.  

With the right systems in place, you can know that your students and faculty’s data is protected and secure. 

Learn More About OpenEye’s Strong Adherence to Campus Security Practices 

OpenEye’s cloud video solution is a complete, easy-to-use, and secure solution that safeguards the data of its users with rigorous cybersecurity measures put in place.  

OpenEye Web Services (OWS) gives IT teams the tools and features needed to deploy our best-in-class, cloud-managed video surveillance solution without compromising the security of your educational institution’s students, network, or faculty. OWS makes it easier for you to access and use video intelligence as a security tool while seamlessly integrating our platform with your existing IT infrastructure to improve cybersecurity and reduce risk. 

OpenEye ensures school video and data are protected with strong adherence to security best practices, including:  

• Automated Lost Password Resets: Simplifying the process of resetting lost passwords lessens the burden on IT and also reduces the likelihood of shared user credentials.  

• Digital Signature Verification: All video exported from OpenEye Web Services includes a Digital Signature to authenticate the image or video file and proves that it has not been altered.  

• Automated Software Updates: Administrators are notified when updates are available and can initiate them with the simple click of a button. Reducing the likelihood of vulnerabilities being left unpatched.  

• Eliminate Open Inbound Ports: By using an outbound trusted connection, OWS enables remote connectivity without the increased risk of port forwarding or punching holes in your firewall.  

To learn more about OpenEye Web Services’ use of best in breed security practices, book a demo with us now.