Find news and information for the executive corporate security director, CSO, facility manager and assets protection manager on issues of policy, products, incidents, risk management, threat assessments and preparedness.
Issue link: http://sdi.epubxp.com/i/103910
SECURITYWATCH any glass at entrances." "Incidents like this offend everyone's stability and it's beyond words," Beck continued. "This was a horrific act. You just can't plan for this type of thing but you can try to slow it down as much as possible through proactive measures." (Bob Beck is a former law enforcement officer and has 30 years in the security business.) Design security from the onset Marshall Marinace, president, Marshall Alarm Systems Inc., Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and vice president of the Electronic Security Association said that from the very beginning, when new schools are in the planning stages all responsible parties have to make sure the design will be as secure as possible. "One of the problems I see is that architects and engineers who design buildings often have no experience with how security may play into their designs. You have buildings with lots of glass and all windows, or the older buildings with single levels that run thousands of feet," he said. New buildings, he added, need to get the systems integrators involved in the beginning of the planning stages so these security concerns can be met upfront. Marinace said the company's current school customers have been contacting their company about wireless portable panic buttons for all the teachers, as well as access control and additional cameras. He also said school districts have been calling about their lockdown procedures—in some instances extending those lockdowns throughout the day. "Also, instead of four entry points to the school, for example, they are using only one set of doors for entrance and egress. They also want to make it easier for responsible parties to go into a lockdown scenario through one pushbutton or control, rather than having to communicate it system wide over the intercom or to a central point where the lock down is then initiated," he said. "All glass and windows are not a good thing," he added. "Of course I advocate electronic security, but we have to get back to basics to make our schools more secure." Joe Liguori, president, Access Control Technologies Inc., Clifton, N.J. ESA RESPONDS TO SCHOOL TRAGEDY The Electronic Security Association, based in Irving, Texas, released this statement on Monday, December 17 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings: "The loss of these children's lives, and the lives of the adults who tried to protect them, is a tragedy beyond comprehension. This horrendous event will push society and our industry to find ways to prevent future occurrences and we stand ready to assist in any way we can. At this time, while the facts are still coming in and the nation is in mourning, I think it is premature to try to come up with hypothetical outcomes. There is no simple answer, but to do nothing is not an option."--John D. Knox, ESA president and president of Knox Integrated Systems, Lenoir City, Tenn. 12 Heard on the 'Tweet' Notables posted recently on Twitter: Rurapenthe @Bitcrack_Cyber Me to my dad:"I'm a security architect and I research attacks on systems." My dad to his friends: "My son fxes computers. He can fx yours" t0ph @MrToph Skyfall was fantastic, except for the part where they made hacking a major plot element and then forgot to hire a technical editor. Axis Communications @AxisIPVideo Would u like to have any advice on how to install your #IP camera the best way? Check here for @AxisIPVideo tutorial http://bit.ly/SuJkhp CNBCSocial @CNBCSocial Is 2013 the year of Twitter's IPO? @ JBoorstin's social media predictions: http://cnb.cx/YvVF9N First Alert @FirstAlert Christmas trees account for 200 fires annually. Be sure to keep your tree away from heating sources and candles! SecurityInfoWatch LP @LPretailsec Study: Majority of businesses not adequately protecting payment card data: More than 70 percent of merchants found... http://bit.ly/VxfKXP Security Ind. Assoc. @SIAonline @WS_Council founding cmte member @ SecurityDealer Deborah O'Mara blogs on Diversity in the Security Industry #SIABlog http://ow.ly/fE4ME Follow us on Twitter: @SecurityDealer; @STEmagazine; and @SecInfoWatch www.SecurityInfoWatch.com | SD&I; | January 2013