Verkada Partners with Safe and Sound Schools

  • Apr 30, 2025

The first initiative as partners included a joint fundraising campaign to enhance school safety, generating $42,000 for Safe and Sound Schools programs.

Cloud-based security company, Verkada, has partnered with Safe and Sound Schools. The national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting school communities through crisis prevention, response and recovery.

Safe and Sound Schools is an organization founded by parents of children lost from the Sandy Hook shooting provides research-based tools and support for crisis prevention, response and recovery. Schools face unique challenges when it comes to safety and security. From emergency readiness to daily monitoring, creating a safe environment demands both proactive planning and reliable technology.

Verkada's technology protects more than 17 million students today with its fully integrated hardware and software solution. Verkada's six integrated product lines allow schools to:

  • Lock down doors in seconds while still allowing first responders access.
  • Detect vaping and bullying using sensor technology to identify vape smoke and elevated noise levels in bathrooms and locker rooms.
  • Monitor school premises in a privacy-sensitive way by blurring the faces detected in live streams of camera footage (faces can be unblurred at a moment's notice if an incident occurs).
  • Respond quickly to threats with custom alerts and tools — including wireless panic buttons.
  • Detect unusual activity, verify the threat, and initiate an immediate response.
  • Prevent unauthorized visitors using security screens with cloud-based visitor management that integrates with cameras and access control.

Share live camera feeds of incidents with law enforcement for real-time action when necessary.

"Comprehensive school safety takes all of us—and we're deeply grateful to everyone in the Safe and Sound community for their unwavering commitment to this work and to our mission," said Michele Gay, founder and executive director at Safe and Sound Schools. "Together, we're creating safer, more supportive learning environments every day, including through the thoughtful use of technology to implement a layered approach to the safety challenges our schools face."

"Safe and Sound Schools is a powerful voice for school safety, and we're honored to work alongside them to further our commitment to school safety," said Alana O'Grady, vice president of Public Affairs at Verkada. "By aligning our efforts with their evidence-based programs and comprehensive best practices, we aim to help schools prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises more effectively—ultimately, supporting educators and students where it matters most."

The first initiative as partners included a joint fundraising campaign to enhance school safety, generating $42,000 for Safe and Sound Schools programs.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.