School of Visual Arts Amps Up Access Control with Idesco Security System

“[Idesco] had knowledge of service, latest technology, and experience with other schools,” Nakahara said. “We looked for our “Go To Security Partner” that is there for us 24/7 helping to protect our students and staff. We wanted to work with a company that had intimate knowledge of the hardware and who could implement a new system quickly.”

Andrew Schonzeit, President of Idesco, said Idesco was able to have the install completely quickly due to extensive prior planning.

The plans and installation configurations helped Idesco avoid the chaos of a college setting, which Schonzeit said can slow down installation time.

“We preset everything up in our office in terms of software and programming, so we were able to flip from one system to another basically over a weekend,” he said. “They weren’t down at all. All things were working when we started, and all things were working when we finished with no down time.”

Because of the new security system’s success, Kenneth Luguya said the SVA will pilot a new computerized security station in the spring of 2016.

“We are piloting in spring a new computerized security station that checks people’s building access profile when they present their ID,” said Luguya, Enterprise Systems Engineer at the SVA, in a previous statement. “Desk badging will include a green light coming up if a person has permission to access a building. If a particular badge is not in the system, then the light will flash red for no entry.”

In order for other colleges to replicate the SVA’s security system success, Schonzeit says they need to invest in a solid integrator.

Picking an integrator with a sturdy reputation and problem-solving skills will result in a quality installation.

“Pick a company that’s been around for a long time and can constantly do the upgrades involved,” Schonzeit said. “Keep informed on all the new technology that’s in the marketplace so that the colleges will have the cutting edge technology. Then, they won’t get behind the eight ball and put in a where they’re really behind, and it’s hard to catch up.”