Campus Safety July/August 2021 - 23

Security Industry Association reflect a
person's mastery of security principles
and skills.
Also, ask if the integrator has certifications
from top equipment manufacturers
that often require comprehensive
classes followed by rigorous
testing. Manufacturers use these
classes to protect their market reputation
and help integrators learn which
products are best for their customer's
specific needs.
Here are a few questions to ask
about how an integrator starts and
completes a job.
» Will there be one project manager
throughout the job?
» Will that project manager handle
all interactions with security
subcontractors?
» Will there be regularly scheduled
project update meetings?
» Can the integrator work during
hours resulting in the fewest
campus disruptions?
» Will any required training be provided
on campus, saving time and
travel expenses?
Also, this is an excellent time to ask
for several references at campuses
comparable to yours. Most integrators
are happy to arrange a telephone or
in-person meeting, enabling you to
gain a deeper insight into an integrator's
capabilities. Use this opportunity
to ask about business concerns, such
as an integrator's invoicing policies.
Ensure the integrator offers product
lines that are a good fit with your existing
equipment. And check an integrator's
financial health as well as that
of its major suppliers. A quick credit
report can save distress resulting from
a service or product provider going
bust during your project.
Certifications show an integrator's
commitment to quality. Look
for initials such as CPM (Certified
Protection Professional) and CSPM
(Certified Security Project Manager)
on a contact's business card. Certifications
from ASIS International and the
campussafetymagazine.com
If talk about government regulations,
references, certifications or
work habits meets with glassy-eyed
responses, move to the next integrator
on your list.
2. Is Your Candidate Fluid in
'IT speak'?
The days of running coaxial cable from
analog cameras to a DVR, forming
a security-only network, have long
passed. Today's campus security systems
may encompass a dozen or more
systems, such as video, access control,
intrusion sensors, visitor management,
intercoms and infant protection
systems. These devices, many wireless,
now run on campus-wide networks
overseen by the IT department.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices on
the campus network expands opportunities
for hackers to disrupt and deny
the delivery of critical services and
capture sensitive or proprietary data. A
successful cyberattack on a healthcare
campus may cause medical devices
to malfunction, potentially creating
life-threatening situations.
Today's integrator needs more than a
passing knowledge of cybersecurity. At
a minimum, an integrator should work
with the campus IT staff to set security
device IP address and port locations
and change manufacturer-supplied
passwords. Certifications from providers
such as Cisco, Microsoft and IBM
indicate someone on the integrator's
staff has a good understanding of
network technologies.
Ensure the
integrator offers
product lines that are
a good fit with your
existing equipment.
Most campuses have given up on
mechanical locks and keys for access
control. Keys are too easy to lose, copy
or lend to an unauthorized person.
However, too many locations continue
using 40-year-old Wiegand access
control technology. With no signal
encryption between plastic cards and
readers, it's easy for hackers to capture
data and clone a working credential.
An international standard, Open
Supervised Data Protocol (OSDP),
provides encryption keys to secure
facilities from a college campus to a
federal biohazard lab. A good integrator
knows this.
It's dangerous to trust your security
with an integrator unfamiliar with
cybersecurity principles.
3. How Will Maintenance and
Service Be Handled?
Unless you have an on-campus team
capable of servicing low-voltage
security systems, you will need the
integrator when devices fail. Know how
quickly you can get service before you
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23
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Campus Safety July/August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Campus Safety July/August 2021
