With schools facing threats like trespassing, theft, drug use, weapons, and violence, outdated video surveillance systems demand technological upgrades and thoughtful implementation.

Is Traditional Video Security Still Effective?

Many schools rely on conventional closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems for security. These systems typically record footage that can be reviewed after an incident. While providing basic surveillance functionality, traditional video security systems lack critical features that can significantly impact the outcomes of campus security threats. Conventional systems are also reactive rather than proactive in threat management. Administrators can waste valuable resources searching through footage, while the system lacks the features and real-time response needed to properly address security threats.

When evaluating a school video security system, key considerations include:

1. Preventing Incidents and Escalation
2. Emergency Response and Communication
3. Peace of Mind
4. Ease of Setup and Use

This article will cover the weaknesses of traditional surveillance systems and explore why many schools have adopted AI video security to create safer campuses while reducing costs.

1. Preventing Incidents and Escalation

To understand the vast difference between traditional and AI security systems, let’s look at the timeline for incident detection. Consider the following example:

Someone reports vandalism to the school. The administration checks the camera footage. In the recording, the perpetrator appears, looks straight at the camera, then proceeds to spray paint campus property. Why didn’t the security camera deter the individual from vandalism?

Perpetrators are often emboldened to commit crimes under traditional surveillance because they know that by the time someone reviews the footage, they’ll be gone. And with no way to personally identify the perpetrator, the school is the only one accountable for damages.

Traditional:

This common scenario highlights a major flaw in traditional CCTV systems: guards can’t monitor every location simultaneously. They’re also vulnerable to error, fatigue, and distraction. For many schools, footage is only checked after an incident is reported. In these situations, a standard security system can only record incidents, not prevent them. 

AI: 

AI surveillance, on the other hand, offers real-time detection of various triggers: objects, actions, people, and more—allowing security teams to act right away. In the previous example, an alert could immediately notify security when a camera first detected a trespassing event, prompting an immediate response via lights, recorded warnings, or manual intervention. This technology can result in significant cost savings by minimizing damage or entirely deterring vandalism and theft.

In cases where deterrence fails, like some student altercations, AI live alerts can trigger alarms or notify nearby staff to intervene and prevent escalation. Some AI solutions can recognize over a hundred triggers, helping to avoid expensive damage and unnecessary harm.

2. Emergency Response and Communication

Unfortunately, not all threats can be deterred. When a suspicious person, known criminal, or weapons are spotted on campus, reaction time and live communication become critical. 

Traditional: 

Standard surveillance relies on human detection and manual phone communication with responders, creating critical delays in escalation and response at a time when every second counts. 

AI: 

In contrast, AI systems can instantly recognize threats and alert staff (even via smartphone). AI systems facilitate one-button contact and live footage sharing with emergency responders. This allows staff to report emergencies faster and more thoroughly than traditional systems. In worst-case scenarios, these necessary features can directly save lives. 

Alerts are also customizable for different circumstances. For instance, AI can differentiate responses for varied threats, such as alerting staff about a suspicious person or initiating an immediate medical response for a student in distress.

3. Peace of Mind

Safety is essential for maintaining the trust of faculty, students, and parents. Depending on their functionality, video systems can inspire different levels of trust. To feel truly safe, people want to know that precautions are in place to protect them at all times.

Traditional: 

Individuals know that traditional security cameras often serve only to record crime, not prevent it. Unless 24/7 monitoring is guaranteed and communicated, people may not feel safe, even with the presence of cameras. Continuous human surveillance is often impractical for school campuses, limiting and undermining community peace of mind. 

AI: 

Video AI enables 24/7 monitoring across all critical areas— classrooms, hallways, playgrounds—far beyond human capabilities. It can monitor for suspicious activity, trigger alerts, and notify response teams, even in the middle of the night. Communicating these capabilities reassures the community that emergency assistance is always available.

4. Ease of Setup and Use

Security systems often come with hidden costs. If a system is technically complex or lacks an intuitive interface, it can incur costs in employee training and overtime. An effective video security system should simplify processes, not complicate them.

Traditional: 

Standard systems require the installation and maintenance of a traditional network video recorder (NVR) or digital video recorder (DVR). These systems require regular manual updates and hardware repairs and often fail within a few years of installation. Searching for footage can be tedious, typically involving manual fast-forwarding and rewinding to find the right evidence.

AI: 

AI security systems are easy to install, even with pre-existing camera setups. Hybrid-cloud solutions, which utilize both cloud processing and on-site GPUs, are user-friendly and update automatically.

Computer vision allows staff to search footage using natural terms such as objects, clothing, vehicles, and more — rather than timestamps. This can reduce video retrieval time from hours to just a few minutes.

Moreover, AI features enhance usability rather than complicate it. For example, Lumana employs a natural language system for creating custom alerts without code or complex configurations. This makes the system easier for non-technical people to master. 

Conclusion

AI can transform school security by preventing crimes through real-time detection, enabling faster emergency responses, and offering advanced yet easy-to-use features. These systems provide immediate assistance during incidents rather than merely recording them. That extra layer of protection can make all the difference to the school community’s peace of mind. As AI technology evolves, schools that adopt these systems early can make significant improvements in campus safety. 

To take your video surveillance to a new level, start by assessing your needs and researching vendors. This free expert guide helps you ask the right questions and organize findings, making collaboration with other decision-makers easy.