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

[Joel Rosenblatt <joel () COLUMBIA EDU>]

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
>
>
> --
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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