Re: A "physical security" question - "cameras" versus "boots on the ground" - best practices

[Rob Milman <rob.milman () SAIT CA>]

We have both as well. We are also putting in a new system that has analytics built in to focus the monitors on a 
situation as well as send a feed to the boots "smartphone" so that they won't walk into a situation blind. So, no one 
is watching the hundreds of cameras except the system itself. 

I agree that you need both, in balance. The main place to start is with a philosophy that outlines what your security 
stance is. Decide if you are trying to protect people, property or both. Will you use technology to reduce the number 
of boots?  

Funny thing about physical security systems is that they are rapidly becoming integrated into the network which brings 
it into the realm of IT. IT is now responsible for the back-end functionality of the system, while campus security is 
responsible for the front-end.

Rob

Security and Compliance Analyst, Information Systems, SAIT Polytechnic
Ph (403) 210.4229, Cell (403) 606.3173

-----Original Message-----
From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Joel 
Rosenblatt
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 10:41 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] A "physical security" question - "cameras" versus "boots on the ground" - best practices

Hi,

As we have both, I gave a call to our investigation department in Public Safety and posed your question.

The answer I got was you really need both - the camera's are used for investigation after the fact - you are right, no 
one sits and watches them - unless they know something is going down and then they will watch on camera (evidence) and 
send boots out to the site.

The boots are the deterrent (and the camera's to a lesser extent), but they (boots) can't be everywhere.

My personal opinion is that this is one of those cases where the more money you throw at it, the better :-)

IHTH

Joel

Joel Rosenblatt, Manager Network & Computer Security Columbia Information Security Office (CISO) Columbia University, 
612 W 115th Street, NY, NY 10025 / 212 854 3033 http://www.columbia.edu/~joel Public PGP key
http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x90BD740BCC7326C3


--On Wednesday, April 27, 2011 10:25 AM -0600 "SCHALIP, MICHAEL" <mschalip () CNM EDU> wrote:

> Hi folks.....
>
> Sorry if this is the wrong "group", but - I need some advice.....
>
> We're struggling with a debate on physical security measures.  
> Following the Virginia Tech incident - our execs decided that we had 
> to respond with increased security measures.  At some point - the decision was made that we needed to explore 
> "security cameras".  Next thing we knew - there was a contractor engaged, cameras were installed at one campus (we 
> have 6 across the metro area!), and now - the questions are finally being asked - "Are we doing the right thing...??"
>
> Putting in cameras is fine - but then folks are trying to figure out 
> "....who's going to be watching the camera feed?"  The other question that was asked was, "What is more of a 
> deterrent - a security camera - or taking the cost of 30 cameras and hiring another pair of boots to walk around??"
>
> So - I'm asking all of you:  What kind of physical security is 
> preferred?  What kind of security measures are used in higher education to provide a reasonable level of security?  
> Are folks using more "technology" - or more "warm bodies"??
>
> Looking forward to your wisdom.....
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael
>
>
> --
> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by 
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Joel Rosenblatt, Manager Network & Computer Security
Columbia Information Security Office (CISO)
Columbia University, 612 W 115th Street, NY, NY 10025 / 212 854 3033
http://www.columbia.edu/~joel
Public PGP key
http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x90BD740BCC7326C3