10 Steps to Creating A Campus Security Master Plan

Physical security design encompasses many different elements and processes that affect the entire campus. It is important to obtain support from those who will benefit and/or be affected by the introduction of new processes, change or modification to existing procedures, and the modification of exterior and/or interior structures.

The most effective way to build momentum in the development of a physical security program is to create a physical security committee. The team will consist of members in strategic positions of influence, such as administration, IT, operations, safety, security, risk and planning. Setting limits on the number of committee members is equally important. No more than eight members should be assembled for this program.

Committee members must classify what is critical or core to the operation of the campus. In other words, what must be protected? What keeps you up at night?

The objective of asking these questions is to understand what concerns, risks or fears may exist on campus and why. The responses are often constructive and enlightening. Safety of associates working late at night, violence in the emergency department, safety of patients, destruction of the power plant, guns on campus, shootings and workplace violence are just some of the issues that might come to mind during this process.

The security master plan’s development should also include long-term system compatibility, communication infrastructure, product obsolescence and growing demands on the security staff. It should be noted that although security technology is important to the enhanced reactive response of issues and concerns on campus, it does not replace or exclude community and outside agency involvement in the planning process.

Next, the committee should survey current operational risk mitigation measures and determine their effectiveness. Conducting interviews and monitoring daily routines of associates, students, visitors, contractors, delivery services and the like is a critical segment of the overall design of a campus security master plan.

Interviews with staff and students are extremely valuable in gauging the overall temperament of the campus security program. These interviews provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of current physical security measures in place, and how they align with the perceived level of vulnerability.

Outside resources such as CAP Index Inc. provide crime forecasting models, as well as loss mitigation solutions designed to accurately identify the risk of personal and property crimes. Mapping specific locations in and around the campus can assist in the development of how research should be conducted.

The expansion and development of new buildings can create a challenge if not planned correctly. Understanding the campus’ 10-year plan on construction is critical in the overall security master plan. As a security director or campus security administrator, it is important to understand how new buildings, parking lots, garages, walkways and other projects will affect the current physical security master plan. The same applies to increases in student, patient, visitor and vehicle traffic.

With the convergence of new physical security technologies, the integration of existing security hardware into new security platforms can be a challenge. With the onset of IP-based technology in CCTV and access control, you need a clear understanding of the design of current systems as well as the capabilities of existing hardware and software.

One persistent dilemma that plagues security administrators is technology compatibility/interoperability. Many security systems of the past have limited or no ability to integrate with today’s physical security products. As IP technology continues to evolve, the integration and convergence of technologies is paramount in the continuous evolution of campus physical security.

Security staffing is always a business challenge for the security department. Gauging the needs of a campus often becomes a budgeting nightmare due to recurring costs. Building a case for need is as important as the need itself. In many instances, the objective for staffing revolves around the change or addition of responsibility.

It is important to be in front of the budgeting process of new building designs, purchase of new property, and increase of traffic and personnel. Documenting responsibility, service and deliverables will assist in setting the groundwork of the return on investment (ROI) and temper the overall approval process.

The Security Operations Center (SOC) is a critical component to the development of the master security plan. The SOC is a 24x7 command, control and security operations management area. This is the primary hub for operational communications, information sharing and situational awareness for all information pertaining to campus activities, threats and emergencies.

It’s tough to keep a campus infrastructure safe and secure when one is flooded with an ever-changing onslaught of daily threats and warnings from security and enterprise systems. Every morning brings new alarms from various security sources. What’s important and what’s not? How does one categorize and prioritize threats?

In addition to overall campus security challenges, it is important to have a control center that can effectively manage, respond and deliver information in a timely manner to areas of the campus and security staff who are responding to critical issues, alarms or disturbances. Call boxes, fire alarms, duress hardware and lockdowns are but a few examples of conditions that require active response from the SOC.

Since the SOC is the heart of the physical security operation, campuses should be equipped with state-of-the-art communication and operational equipment. In addition to control, operators should have the ability to classify using integrated access, intrusion and video technologies. Historically, SOCs have been designed to extract information by visually monitoring the multitude of cameras, readers and intrusion devices. The objective for today’s campus physical security master plan is to have data pushed to the SOC based on condition, severity and protocol. The increase in response, consistency and accuracy can make the difference in a variety of situations throughout the campus.

Critical infrastructures are areas within the campus that rely on the continuous, reliable operation of a complex set of interdependent infrastructures: electric power, gas, transportation, water, communications and more. In the past, critical infrastructures operated independently. Today, however, they are increasingly linked, automated and interdependent as technologies continue to converge.

Disruption and/or failure in any one of them could create widespread, crippling, multi-infrastructure disruption of the entire system. Many of these systems are known to be vulnerable to physical and cyber threats, and to failures induced by system complexity.

The primary goal of any physical security master plan is to validate the operation and consistency of the security systems, security processes and protection of assets. The final plan that is put in place will be subject to monthly, quarterly, and/or annual review, and requires continuous improvement. Auditing these processes creates active involvement of the security team and each department throughout the campus.

In order to be effective, valued and result-based, campus security master planning must have a balance of architectural, electronic and operational measures. Passive solutions should be integrated with current technology to derive the most effective security solution, cognizant of cost and operational requirements. It is equally important that the vision of the physical security design coincides with the mission of the campus.