Solutions that bridge analog cameras with the IP network are of extreme value. While the use of IP video surveillance is growing, and this technology is the future of the security industry, the majority of installed systems, at this point in time, are analog. A solution that allows you to integrate IP and analog systems is commonly referred to as a hybrid solution. The main benefit of a hybrid solution is that it allows facilities to begin to adapt new technology without completely abandoning their current infrastructure. Campuses can begin to enjoy the benefits of an IP-based surveillance system and still protect their current investments in analog cameras. Bosch Security Systems has a very strong offering for customers that want to migrate to IP video surveillance with a hybrid solution. Bosch has digital recording solutions that will accept both analog and IP inputs and offer multi-camera viewing on a monitor. This type of solution gives the user the ability to view analog cameras next to IP cameras for simple operation. Bosch also manufactures IP video encoders that allow customers to transform analog camera signals into digital format for streaming video across a network for viewing and/or for recording digitally - just as one would do with video from an IP camera. Bosch also offers decoders that can be used to transfer a digital IP signal back to traditional analog, allowing input into an analog recorder or monitor. Using these types of technology, customers can use a mixture of analog and IP cameras in one building or across a campus. More information on migrating from analog to digital technology can be found in the Learning Center of Bosch’s IP Resource Center at: http://www2.boschsecurity.us/ip.

The US Department of Education provides policy guidance on video surveillance for security at schools and universities. Policies typically include details on notification to students and parents and on how video will be used, reviewed, retained and stored. Many schools and universities make their policies available to the public on their web sites, and these could potentially be used as examples. However, there may be laws specific to the state where your school or college is located, so it is important to involve legal counsel when creating a policy for your educational facility to make sure you are in compliance with any state regulations.

The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators has created a Campus Crime Prevention Resource Center that lists the various resources available and the organizations that provide them. However, most of these videos are generic and do not include detailed safety measures that are in place at your campus. Due to this fact, many colleges and universities have opted to create their own safety and security videos to provide students with details specific to their campus and the assistance available from the Public Safety Department. The best recommendation is for you to produce your own safety video based upon the information obtained from the source mentioned above. These videos should be updated every three to five years to ensure the information is current and accurate.

Policies for violations of no-smoking regulations should be in line with normal disciplinary procedures for other misconduct at the hospital. For many hospitals, this would mean an informal warning for a first offense ? reminding the staff member of the rules and pointing out that further transgressions will result in formal warnings. Second and further offenses typically incur formal written warnings, leading ultimately to more severe actions, such as disciplinary hearings or dismissal, when warranted in persistent cases. It is important, though, that there is a great deal of communication about the impending policy, before it or any violation procedures are implemented to ensure all those impacted are aware of the rules and consequences for non-compliance. It is best to coordinate with your hospital’s administrative staff to be sure the communication before and after the policy’s implementation is sufficient. It is extremely important that when changing over to a non-smoking facility you do not create a security risk for your facility. Last year, an organization in the United Kingdom conducted a social engineering study to test the ability to infiltrate buildings, and the organization’s tester was able to enter a building through a back door that was left open by smokers. Once inside the building, the tester was easily able to gain access to restricted areas and information. Staff members may unknowingly create a security hazard by propping open doors or mistakenly leaving doors unlocked when re-entering after breaks. Secondary doors to administrative or records areas in hospitals are often unmanned by staff members, allowing unauthorized individuals to come and go undetected. Also, non-smoking facilities often have increased loitering outside entrances to the facilities, and intruders may try to blend in with smoking employees to gain access into the building. If you are going to make your facility non-smoking, I highly recommend you set up a designated smoking area outside the facility in an area of the hospital campus that has building entrance and exits points that are properly monitored and/or secured. Electronic security systems can help hospitals prevent unauthorized people from gaining access to secure areas of their campus and avoid breaches of property or patient information. For example, access control systems that use readers, locking mechanisms and status devices, keep a door closed until an authorized person presents the necessary access credentials ? such as a hospital ID badge -- required to enter. These systems can also alert security personnel if a door has been propped or forced open, making the hospital building vulnerable. This will help your employees make the transition to a non-smoking facility, while keeping your buildings, employees and patients safe.

Depending on the size of the university, many choose to use a standalone Department of Public Safety to handle facility security. This minimizes the liability of the university and allows the department to remain independent. This is of particular importance when students or faculty are involved in a situation that requires legal or disciplinary actions because the police can remain impartial. This will also allow the Department of Student Affairs to focus on healthcare, student government, housing, dining and other services that are intended to focus solely on the student experience at the university. If kept separate, it is still vitally important that the two departments have processes in place to communicate and share information that is important for the safety, security and well-being of everyone on campus.