Category: Security

DHS Launches Federal Advisory Board on School Safety and Security

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the inaugural members of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board, a group of school safety experts and education leaders that will provide advice and recommendations on practical ways to enhance K-12 school safety and security. The board will advise the DHS secretary through the Cybersecurity […]

How to Work with First Responders for Facility Emergencies

Two retired law enforcement officials believe facilities managers should work more closely with emergency responders to keep people, and the facilities they occupy, safe. Each with 33 years of law enforcement experience, Mark Wood, a retired chief executive police officer from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department; and Jeri Williams, who retired after serving as the […]

Trump Attack Proves Importance of Special Event Security Planning

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pa., has made it obvious that the attention to detail required for securing special events cannot be overly stressed. The ease with […]

UGA Details Major Security Upgrades in Wake of On-Campus Murder

When new and returning University of Georgia (UGA) students come to Athens for the fall semester, they will notice a series of highly visible initiatives to further strengthen campus security—from new signs and perimeter fencing to lighting upgrades, emergency call stations, and automated license plate readers, according to a university announcement. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors […]

Emergency Response Plan

4 Ways to Prepare for Emergency Response at Your Facility

Are you prepared if your facility experiences an emergency? Don’t risk unnecessary harm to your building or its occupants if you haven’t prioritized this important part of facilities management. When disasters and security issues occur, facilities managers need to act quickly and ensure they have effective plans to deal with emergency situations. During Facilities Management […]

As Airport Travel Soars, TSA Catches Nearly 3,300 Guns in First Half of 2024

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which has screened higher passenger volumes this summer and a record-breaking 3 million passengers on Sunday, July 7, intercepted 3,269 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first half of 2024. The first half of the year ended June 30, and the total represents an average 19 firearms detected per […]

5 Ways to Use Your Surveillance Cameras Beyond Security

Over several decades, surveillance systems have evolved from recording and storing footage for playback later, to smart solutions enabling active security. The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) has eliminated the need for someone to sit there reviewing hours’ worth of footage (if they even know what they’re looking for), and even then, if criminal activity […]

3 Top Tech Trends for Facilities Management

Driving efficiency is a competitive imperative in the modern-day market. Facilities management is, for many, a large component of a significantly larger initiative. The pursuit of creating a business environment where systems work in tandem to ensure productivity, employee comfort, and process optimization has nearly universal appeal. However, instituting a cohesive facility optimization strategy can […]

CISA and Virginia County Put School Active Shooter Protocols to the Test

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in partnership with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, the Fauquier County Fire Rescue System, and Fauquier County Public Schools in Virginia, successfully conducted a full-scale active shooter/reunification exercise aimed at bolstering the safety and security of K-12 schools on June 27. The exercise was held at Kettle Run […]

5 Top Trends in Physical Access Control

HID, an identity and physical access control solutions provider, has released its “2024 State of Physical Access Control Report,” identifying five key trends that are shaping the future of access control. Produced by IFSEC Global in partnership with HID, the report surveyed over 1,200 security professionals across the globe to paint a picture of an industry […]