Design for Campus Safety While Maintaining Student Privacy

“Among the most impactful are AI-powered video intelligence platforms that allow security teams to quickly surface relevant footage across sprawling campuses,” says Jake Leichtling, senior director of product at Verkada. “Rather than manually scrubbing through hours of recordings, administrators can simply describe a person or vehicle, or upload a photo, and retrieve pertinent clips almost instantly. These systems can dramatically accelerate incident investigations that could previously take hours or days.”

Access control is also evolving significantly, and mobile credentialing is a growing area of focus.

“Advancements in one-card solutions are also improving campus security. Institutions are moving beyond simply issuing an ID card and instead focusing on what that identity enables,” says Stephen Homrighaus, vertical sales director for education at Genetec. “A single credential can now grant individualized access to dorms, research libraries, labs, dining services and event spaces, all managed through a centralized system. The movement to mobile credentialing is in response to their needs and academic experience.”

Near-field communication technology is another way mobile credentialing is becoming more innovative. Leichtling explains that “using NFC technology eliminates the need for physical keycards. Instead, students and staff can use their smartphones as secure access tokens.”

“Native integration with existing campus ID systems enables seamless coordination across departments,” he adds. “And with cloud-based lockdown, campus safety leaders can secure every exterior door, whether 50 or 5,000, with a single tap from a smartphone or security operations center, while instantly sharing live video feeds and annotated floorplans with first responders to help them navigate and isolate threats faster.”

Leichtling points out that outdoor safety infrastructure is evolving too, with the classic emergency blue-light stations being upgraded to include cloud-connected cameras, two-way video intercoms and cellular or Wi-Fi gateways that ensure reliable connectivity, no matter how remote the area.

DISCOVER: Here’s a practical guide to balancing physical security and privacy in higher education.

Address Student Privacy Concerns with Physical Security Solutions

While all these innovations can help colleges and universities better protect students and facilities from physical threats, they are leading to concerns about privacy. Like all technologies, advanced physical security solutions have pros and cons when it comes to privacy.

“Students and faculty want to move across campus without feeling restricted. Technology can remove friction while keeping safety front and center. When systems are connected, responses are faster and more targeted, which reduces disruption for everyone,” Homrighaus explains. “That said, privacy is always top of mind. Institutions need to be clear about what data is collected, how it is protected and who has access to it. In many mobile credential systems, the only thing being transmitted is the credential itself, not personal information. Still, campuses must ensure strong encryption and responsible data governance so trust is never compromised.”

Leichtling emphasizes that modern security platforms are increasingly designed with privacy as a foundational feature, not an afterthought.

“For example, live face-blur capabilities allow security teams to view camera feeds or archive footage while automatically obscuring identifiable face information, protecting the anonymity of students, faculty and visitors who are not subjects of an investigation,” he says. “Comprehensive audit logs provide transparency into who accessed footage and when, creating accountability within security departments and building trust with the campus community.”

Mobile access credentials also improve student and faculty data protection by reducing the risk created by lost or stolen keycards. Leichtling points out that smartphones are lost or stolen less frequently than physical cards. In addition, smartphone credentials can be remotely deactivated, minimizing the window of exposure.

“Mobile credentials can also be configured to require the phone to be unlocked, adding a second factor of security,” he adds. “Managing lost or misplaced keycards wastes time and resources. With mobile NFC credentials or app-based passes, students, faculty and staff can use their smartphones to unlock select doors.”

When it comes to accessibility, technology should make movement easier, not harder, according to Homrighaus: “Mobile credentials, smart cards and biometrics can speed up entry and reduce waiting times. At the same time, access must be role-based. Not everyone needs access to every space. The key is managing permissions thoughtfully so security and convenience can coexist.”

Finding a Balance Between Physical Security and Privacy

Balancing modern physical security technology starts with intention, says Homrighaus, who adds that before deploying new tools, leaders should ask what problem is being solved and whether they have the right policies and people in place to support the technology.

“AI, analytics and advanced monitoring tools can dramatically improve response times and situational awareness. But they need to be implemented carefully, including camera placement, data retention and how alerts are handled in all matters,” he says. “Finding balance means being proactive about safety while remaining respectful of the open, collaborative nature of a campus environment. Transparency with students and faculty about how technology is used goes a long way toward maintaining trust.”

Leichtling says the most effective campus security leaders treat privacy and safety as complementary goals rather than competing ones.

“As security technology gains new capabilities, it’s essential to look for providers with privacy-by-design features backed by rigorous security operations center and ISO certifications, along with clear data handling standards,” he explains. “That maturity gives institutions confidence that their security tools work well and are built responsibly. Platforms with built-in privacy features — such as face blur, role-based access controls and audit logging — protect individuals while preserving the investigative utility of security systems when they're genuinely needed.”

LEARN MORE: An integrated physical security strategy can transform campus safety.

Before deploying new tools, he recommends campus security leaders establish clear governance policies that define who can access video footage, under what circumstances and how long that data will be retained. “Publishing these policies transparently helps the campus community understand how technology is being used and builds confidence in the security program.”

Preparation is equally important according to Leichtling. He says the most effective safety strategies combine modern tools with clear protocols, regular training and cross-functional coordination.

“Staff should be confident in initiating a lockdown, students should understand how to respond, and local first responders should be familiar with both the campus layout and the systems in place,” he adds. “Widely adopted frameworks such as the ‘I Love U Guys’ Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol can align language and expectations across stakeholders, creating a shared understanding before a crisis occurs.”

Ensure Modern Physical Security Tools Reduce Friction on Campus

One of the most significant shifts in campus security, according to Leichtling, is the move toward unified hybrid cloud-based platforms.

“Where legacy systems often required separate software for cameras, access control, alarms and communications, modern cloud-based platforms consolidate these functions into a single interface accessible from a smartphone or web browser,” he says. “This unified approach removes the patchwork of disconnected systems that historically slowed emergency response.”

CASE STUDY: Bowie State University modernized its physical security strategy.

“When everything feeds into a centralized operations dashboard, security teams are not jumping between systems. They can see what is happening in real time and act quickly,” says Homrighaus. “App integrations also help other departments stay informed. Facilities, IT and security can all work from the same source of truth. That shared visibility increases accountability and shortens response times. It also makes it easier to close the loop after an incident.”

This translates into smoother experiences for everyone on campus. “Students can use their phones to enter residence halls and academic buildings, eliminating the need for separate keycards, while visitors can receive digital check-in invitations in advance — in multiple languages — and complete onboarding without waiting at a desk,” says Leichtling. “Temporary credentials for contractors, adjunct faculty or event staff can be issued and revoked remotely, in seconds, without any physical handoff.”

For security teams, integration removes the friction from high-stakes decisions, he adds. For example, lockdown scenarios that once required securing each door manually — a process that could take critical minutes — can now be executed with a single tap.

“Administrators can verify from their phones that every targeted door has locked, even across multiple buildings or campuses,” he says. “If a power or internet outage occurs, hybrid cloud systems can still trigger lockdowns via local area network, ensuring resilience when it matters most.”

Leichtling points out that emergency response coordination has also improved substantially.

GAME ON: Advanced technologies keep college campuses safe.

“Security operations centers can stream live camera feeds directly to first responders’ devices, share annotated floorplans via text message, and remotely grant responding officers unique access credentials, allowing them to move freely through secured areas without fumbling for keys,” he says. “Scheduling capabilities let administrators automate alarm settings and access permissions based on the campus calendar, reducing the manual workload on security staff while improving consistency.”

Cyber and Physical Security Are Needed To Protect Higher Education

As threats continue to grow in strength and frequency, it’s important that cybersecurity be considered across all technology implementations.

“As physical security systems become more data-rich, the stakes for protecting that data have never been higher,” says Leichtling.

He explains that “providers have looked to high-stakes sectors such as finance to find a gold standard for data protection, resulting in end-to-end encryption that many once thought was technically impossible for high-bandwidth video. The result is enterprise-controlled encryption where customers hold the encryption keys, moving the industry away from a model of trusting the vendor toward true data sovereignty.”

“As campuses prepare for an increasingly unpredictable threat landscape in 2026 and beyond, ‘secure enough’ is no longer an acceptable baseline,” he says. “Modern emergency preparedness requires systems that are not only fast and flexible but also resilient, encrypted and built to the highest security standards from the ground up.”

Collaboration Is Key to Modern Physical Security Success

Security cannot live in a silo, says Homrighaus. He points out that campus safety discussions should include all stakeholders: security teams, IT, student affairs, facilities and leadership. “Everyone needs to understand the standard operating procedures and how to communicate during an incident. Vendors are partners in that process.”

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Vendors bring technical expertise to the table and help higher education institutions ensure the technology works as intended, giving campus teams more time to focus on support for students and faculty.

“When collaboration is strong, small issues are resolved quickly,” he adds. “When departments operate separately, important details can be missed. Good security programs need to be nimble, flexible and adaptable to emerging challenges.”

Leichtling describes physical security as a team sport. “A camera network or access control system is only as effective as the people and processes around it, and those people span far more than the security department alone.”

When security teams operate in silos, he adds, the result is disconnected tools, inconsistent policies and slower incident response. “Institutions that build cross-functional security teams are better positioned to align technology with campus culture.”

Modern physical security solutions should also make collaboration easier due to intuitive interfaces that empower everyone, not just trained security personnel, to engage with and act on security data.

“Flexible permission controls mean each team member sees exactly what they need, nothing more,” says Leichtling. “And when systems are accessible via smartphone or web browser, collaboration happens where people already are, removing barriers to adoption across departments.”

In practice, he continues, that type of collaboration enables faster, better-coordinated emergency response. Everyone from security, campus police, facilities, student affairs and communications teams must act in concert in the event of a lockdown. However, modern systems that integrate emergency notifications across text, email and apps only deliver their full value when stakeholders know how to use them, says Leichtling. This makes regular joint drills, tabletop exercises and cross-departmental post-mortem reviews essential.

“Technology alone will not solve campus safety challenges. It is about people, process and communication just as much as it is about software and hardware,” adds Homrighaus. “When institutions clearly define their goals, involve the right stakeholders and use technology thoughtfully, they can create environments that feel both safe and welcoming.”