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Essential Security Measures Must Be Implemented By Timothy A. Dimoff Not so very long ago, a picture of America was as innocent as a Norman Rockwell painting. Today, it appears we all have a target on our backs. We’re targets for terrorists, for frustrated and angry students and co-workers, for embittered spouses and for enraged drivers. Unfortunately, a horror like Columbine or the Virginia Tech massacre can happen anywhere. Will we ever feel secure again? Recent years have proven that it only takes one significant event or encounter to set off violence. Triggers include bullying, abuse, humiliation, or some other event that causes an unhappy, discouraged or depressed student or person to vent their frustrations on others. Race, religion or economic status appears to make little difference. Everyone is vulnerable and the violence must be stopped! It is imperative that we plan for every conceivable situation. Businesses, public buildings and schools all need crisis and emergency plans in place that include building and security assessments and first responder procedures. Security solutions including high tech and physical measures are being implemented in schools and in businesses throughout the United States. The technology and the capability exists to transport not only video, but also audio directly to first responders. This would allow first responders the ability to not only SEE but HEAR (with even 2-way audio using VoIP) what is transpiring at the scene. Imagine what the reaction may have been at Virginia Tech if a student or teacher could have initiated a “panic” handheld device that would have held open the microphone on all the Norris Hall cameras as well as the video and fed all of it to the campus police dispatch center. Then responding officers could view and listen from their laptops, at the same time as the police dispatcher, those same cameras at Norris Hall. It is also possible to give authorized persons anywhere on the network (including the internet) the ability to “lock down” a building automatically from any location where they have a web-enabled appliance (pc, pda, cell phone, etc.). Designated users can also initiate previously defined “Threat Levels” from anywhere on the network. This could be anything from locking down all doors to initiating SMS text messaging and/or e-mails to initiating pre-defined voice messaging through a facility’s PA system or even audio portion of their IP camera/s/. This is the first true network appliance architecture. The system provides credential-based access control, event and alarm monitoring, video surveillance, and VoIP communications through a set of locally intelligent network appliances that would be networked throughout a campus, whether it’s an educational facility or a business campus. Control is through a network appliance that delivers a user interface using only a common web browser. This makes it more feasible for use by many. But, even with this new technology, more is needed. Everyone has a part in providing security today. People need to look around at co-workers, other students, even strangers. Notice their behavior. Strange behavior or changes in behavior can be warning signs that need to be addressed. Changes can include a sudden lack of interest in friends, family or school; depression or mood swings; anger or violence of any kind, especially towards animals; isolation; sullenness; talk of death or fascination with weapons. Any suspicions, no matter how difficult it may be, need to be reported to authorities. It’s especially important to have anonymous reporting mechanisms in place for the reporting any concerns. Minor incidents should not go uncontested. Management needs to make sure that anger management incidents are immediately addressed. Every business, school and public building needs to put security and emergency plans in place, and most importantly, they need to make sure that these plans are practiced and followed. This includes restrictions on visitors and tightening the environment until there is total confidence in the security of the premises and its occupants. Every business should conduct security assessments that look at the big picture, including physical surroundings, IT and employee security measures. Develop a thorough crisis plan, building mapping, and conduct emergency training for all employees and staff. High tech security devices need to be implemented, including methods for identification and for allowing access to the premises. No one likes it, but in today’s society there is no such thing as too careful.
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Timothy A. Dimoff is President of SACS Consulting, Inc., a high-risk security consulting firm headquartered in Akron, Ohio. He is a renowned speaker, author, consultant and trainer. He has appeared on NBC’s Dateline, Court TV and CNN and in major newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. He has written six books, including |
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