The University of New Mexico (UNM) is an institution that had a large number of independent systems across their urban campus, so it hired a consultant to conduct a strategic review of all of its electronic security systems and components. The assessment addressed both today’s security requirements and potential future demands, which was the critical component in developing the school’s electronic security migration plan. To learn more about the process of integrating security systems, click here.
There were many challenges during the initial security assessment. The UNM campus resides in an urban setting in Albuquerque, spanning more than 600 acres, and it includes buildings that are located off campus.
The existing electronic access control devices’ manufacturer and model numbers were documented. There were several independent access control and intrusion detections systems added to the campus over the years. Each utilized independent software and required a significant upgrade. For UNM security staff, that meant a large investment in multiple software upgrades.
A holistic analysis of UNM’s existing access control systems, however, resulted in the university developing a better understanding of today’s access control technology and the difference between several access control manufacturers’ products and implementation costs. From there, UNM was prepared to make the necessary security decisions to cost-effectively protect the urban campus while navigating additional security challenges that may arise.
Michelle Hofmaster is a senior consultant for national technology consulting firm The Sextant Group. She can be reached at [email protected].
