Video is a staple component in today’s school security system. According to Campus Safety’s 2018 Video Surveillance Survey results, 44 percent of K–12 schools and 53 percent of higher education campuses use their video solutions to monitor a campus during events where precarious situations could arise; common examples included during storms, athletic events, concerts and protests. The report also stated that 59 percent of K–12 schools and 53 percent of higher education campuses rely on their security cameras to provide evidence for criminal investigations.
Video is a staple component in today's school security system. According to Campus Safety's 2018
Video Surveillance Survey results, 44 percent of K–12 schools and 53 percent of higher education campuses use their video solutions to monitor a campus during events where precarious situations could arise; common examples included during storms, athletic events, concerts and protests. The report also stated that 59 percent of K–12 schools and 53 percent of higher education campuses rely on their security cameras to provide evidence for criminal investigations.
Cameras with analytics, such as facial, object and motion detection, act as a force multiplier for perimeter security threat detection. Individuals who aren't permitted to enter a school campus, like sex offenders or wanted persons, can be identified by walking into view of a camera, a security guard would be immediately notified. Suspicious bags can be tracked, dispatching an officer to the scene for further investigation. Remote operators can receive an alert of trespassers in an unauthorized area and issue a verbal warning to dissuade illegal activity.
Cameras enabled with
heat mapping, traffic and crowd measurement, and visible-behavior analytics can improve campus operations. Resource officers can determine the most congested areas and the general traffic flow. Using this data, they can provide more effective exit plans and security procedures. Stadium directors can report the number of people passing through the gates so staffing levels can be adjusted. Teachers can better understand classroom engagement, mood and activity through
intelligent analytics.
Improved security, facility management and educational functions
Data from security cameras can lead to more clarity on security, facility management and educational functions as the technologies enabling these insights continue to advance. Video storage solutions play a key role and are responsible for: processing, management, preservation and protection of the data. Whether it's a small school deploying a dozen cameras or a university with over 2,000, consideration of recording, storage and architecture needs are necessary. By equipping your DVR/NVR or server with the right storage device, you'll ensure that video or metadata won't be lost or compromised, which would limit your data-related reporting capabilities. Twenty-five percent of campuses say video downtime or data loss has a big impact on their organization, according to Campus Safety's 2019 Video Surveillance Report.
For schools, the most effective storage solutions are specialized hard drives that are optimized for surveillance applications and 24/7 workloads, like Seagate's SkyHawk drive family. Supporting 64 HD cameras, storing up to 10,000 hours of video, and featuring ImagePerfect firmware to minimize dropped frames, SkyHawk and SkyHawk AI are superior options. Both drives benefit from embedded SkyHawk Health Management software to identify anomalies, enable intervention, reduce the risk of data loss, and increase peace of mind. For
education institutions implementing numerous cameras with video analytics, SkyHawk AI provides enhanced functionality with its 32 AI streams optimized for edge computing.
Seagate's Exos enterprise
drive is an optimal option for schools looking to centralize video and AI in back-end environments. Designed to accommodate demanding mixed workloads in data centers, Exos drives can store video and metadata from thousands of cameras. They are also Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and Trade Agreement Act (TAA) compliant, delivering a heightened level of data protection.
Smart security cameras fueled by powerful storage solutions provide a tangible return on investment for school administrations and represent some of the most cutting-edge video technologies gaining traction in the education sector.