AV Technology - May 2008 - (Page 46)

MINIMIZING EQUIPMENT THEFT A non-removable box mounted to AV equipment sounds an alarm that’s painful enough to discourage a thief, and attract attention to the crime scene. not a doubt in my mind,” says White. Adds Noullet, “We have not lost any big-ticket items since we evolved to using our new technology setup.” UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH’S SWANSON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING If Fort Knox is the most secure place for money, then the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering is the most secure place for equipment in a classroom. They utilize all the “standard” practices, but have taken two unique steps to help minimize theft. They added card reader systems and installed video security cameras. There are three distinct lines of visible defense noticeable as soon as you get near one of their six classrooms. The first is signage, which notifies those entering the room that electronic monitoring and surveillance equipment is in use. At the door, the second line of defense, a card reader system, greets all users. If the visitor has authorization to access the room, the door opens to reveal the final defense — network video cameras. Each of their classrooms is outfitted with at least two Axis 2100 networked security cameras. Every 60 seconds those cameras take a snapshot of the room and equipment, which are then sent to a secure server. If a piece of equipment is stolen, a visual record of who did it is immediately available. To some in higher education, this may seem overwhelming or a bit over the top. But, says Rich Colwell, manager of computer services, they make sure everyone who attends the school knows they take security seriously. “At orientation I introduce myself on their first day, and tell them about the equipment in the classroom,” says Colwell. “I show them the cameras, tell them what we record, and show them what the image looks like on the screen. I tell them what I can see, which is everything.” Colwell says that since these systems have been in place, the school has not lost a single piece of equipment. At the end of the day there are no “silver bullets” or devices that can guarantee your equipment is safe. The most effective way to minimize equipment theft is to use products and techniques that are true impediments and use multiple layers of security, ideally ones that complement each other. George Klippel is the manager of Classroom Technology and Distributed Education Support for the Information Networking Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. He can be reached at gklippel@cmu.edu. 46 | AV TECHNOLOGY | may 2008 http://www.spcontrols.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AV Technology - May 2008

AV Technology - May 2008 Contents Precedent Corporate: How to Qualify an AV Supplier Education: Working Smarter AV Technology's Guide to Networked AV Government: IPv6 — Why You Should Care Calculating ROI on Your Digital Signage Investment Enhancing Audio in the Classroom Minimizing Equipment Theft Smart AV The Tribe Has Spoken AV Enables Interactive Research AV Image Enhancement Product Spotlight Tech Horizons Product Review New Products AV MO

AV Technology - May 2008

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