3 Effective Approaches to Enhance School Safety (Digital & Physical)

Every parent's top concern is the safety of their children. However, the unsettling reality is that security breaches can result in weapons on campus, posing a threat to the safety of students. Additionally, the persistence of cybercriminals who can suspend operations for weeks and steal sensitive student data raises significant concerns. Given these challenges, educational staff face the critical task of finding ways to guarantee the safety of their students and maintain uninterrupted learning.  

Did you know?

• In 2022, there were 50 shooting incidents that resulted in injury or death on school grounds.
• Ransomware targeted at least 44 universities or colleges and nearly 2,000 U.S. schools in the same year.
• Cyberattacks can force schools to close anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks.
• Ransomware can cost US schools more than $3.5 billion annually.

Whether it’s a physical breach or a digital intrusion, parents need assurance that schools have robust protocols for monitoring suspicious activity and deploying emergency responses.

Why are Schools Vulnerable to Cyberattacks?

To cybercriminals, the educational sector is a prime target with valuable student data ready to exploit. As schools migrate software from local servers to the cloud, most are unaware of the vulnerabilities. they create during the transition.  

Evaluating security gaps and educating staff about emerging threats have always been initial steps in fortifying network endpoints. Nonetheless, with the progression of school attacks, the continuous evolution of networks, and the rapid proliferation of devices and applications, the pressing question arises: How can educational institutions expand their security measures to safeguard users and sensitive data over the long haul, all the while managing their financial resources judiciously?

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1. Establish a Cost-Effective Cybersecurity Operations Center (CyberSOC)

Every school needs a robust cybersecurity system, yet not all facilities have the financial means to create and manage such an infrastructure. While schools decide on the allocation of resources for viable solutions, a prevailing apprehension revolves around the potential obsolescence of these investments—a vulnerability that malicious actors stand prepared to capitalize on.   

Despite financial constraints, schools should consider a SCALEABLE Cybersecurity Operations Center (CyberSOC) to address the ever-shifting demands of their networks. A CyberSOC offers continuous IT support, including managed endpoint detection and response (MXDR), web filtering, firewall optimization, incident response, and active directory fortification tailored to network-specific needs. This comprehensive approach ensures judicious resource efficiency, preventing unnecessary expenses and the retention of outdated technology.

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2. Implement Zero Trust Endpoint Security

Even if your network appears secure, a single click or malicious app download can compromise your infrastructure and disrupt school operations for weeks. So, while educating staff and students to recognize threats is essential, relying soley on human vigilance is not foolproof, especially as threats evolve and the number of devices multiplies.  

Never let your data fall into the wrong hands. A Zero-Trust Endpoint Security Solution provides features like allow-listing, Ringfencing, storage control, elevation control, and a reputation intelligence engine to protect data and monitor app usage. Never let student and school data fall into the wrong hands with layers of automatic surveillance.  

Leveraging Digital Advancements to Help Improve Physical School Safety?

Now the question remains. How can technology enhance physical school safety regardless of your school’s size or budget.  

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3. Enhancing Video Surveillance Systems with AI Video Analytics

While most schools lack the resources for large security teams, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, almost 80% of elementary schools have security cameras.  

By incorporating scalable AI video analytics, schools can cost-effectively upgrade systems to scan and track concealed weapons and suspicious activity in real time. Additionally, teams can analyze prerecorded videos to assess threats and aid investigations. Monitor environmental threats like fires, questionable vehicles using license plate recognition, and upload images of restricted guardians to ensure kids leave with the proper guardian using facial recognition and extensible search capabilities.  

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In Conclusion: Scalable, Cost-Effective Solutions for School Safety

School security is evolving rapidly, but scalable strategies and consultative approaches are becoming more accessible to all types of educational institutions.  

A security operations center provides 24/7 IT support and scaled network resources to protect budgets and networks. Zero trust solutions establish emergency protocols if employees or students make mistakes and restrict data access to selected individuals, mitigating the impact of human errors. Meanwhile, AI Video Analytics fortifies perimeters with intelligent detection capabilities, enhancing situational awareness and delivering critical alerts within seconds.

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