School Vulnerabilities Explained at ASIS

Keeping students, faculty and visitors at schools are a top priority for every school district. Having a vulnerability assessment done at a school campus can make a huge difference in keeping everyone safe while there. In fact, having a professional come out to test the systems you have in place can make a huge impact. Many schools aren’t aware that something as simple as leaving a coffee mug in a classroom can put someone at risk.

During ASIS, John Woodmansee, from the Connecticut Department of Education, led a discussion on Virtual School Vulnerability Assessment.

The first exercise, if you will, was having attendees pick out what could be potential risks in a classroom from a picture he had on the screen.

The image showed what looked like a normal classroom. But there were a few things that could create a risk. For instance, the computer was unlocked and ready for anyone to use - meaning students could quickly gain access to private and sensitive information, including the teacher's email.

The teachers keys were out on the desk as well as the ID card. Leaving these out in the open is a big no-no. Students could easily take a key and open something or gain access to a room that might be restricted and hold certain items that shouldn’t be accessed by students - something such as a chemistry lab. The kids could also steal a key and make copies, perhaps before the teacher has even noticed the key was gone. The student could even return the key and the teacher would never know it had been compromised.These are just a few examples of something an instructor should be aware of before leaving the classroom unattended.

Other things instructors and faculty should know are the order of their priority list during an emergency as well as know exactly what the protocols are for each different emergency. Some school districts have started to use ‘All Hazard’ plans which have same protocols for multiple incidents, making it easier for faculty, staff and students to remember during the event or events.

Keeping everyone safe while on campus has always been the top priority for schools, and knowing how to make that task easier and safer is becoming much more attainable, thanks to conducting vulnerability assessments.

About the Author

Lindsay Page is the editor for Campus Security & Life Safety magazine, and the senior editor for Security Today.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3