Education Security Consulting Case Study

Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State University is a public university located on a 170-acre campus in New Haven Connecticut. Founded in 1893, the university has an estimated 12,000 students with a focus on teacher and nursing education along with a total of approximately 225 other educational programs.

SRMC responded to a nationwide request for qualifications for a campus-wide vulnerability assessment to develop a comprehensive Security Master Plan (SMP.) After an intensive selection process including pre-qualification screening, team interviews, client/project review, and verification of credentials and experience, Southern Connecticut State University engaged Security Risk Management Consultants to conduct this assessment.

Our Approach

Our approach included a multi-dimensional, holistic assessment designed to identify organizational assets and the threats, risks, and vulnerabilities that may impact them and provide the technological, operational, and organizational framework for mitigating the impact of criminal and other emergent events and potential threats. The SMP addressed security planning from conceptual discussions through program implementation to technology commissioning and beyond.

A key outcome was the development of a SMP used as a foundational document for improvements and modifications to the existing Public Safety Department. This master plan gave direction and overall guidance. For a University Public Safety program, it exists more as a conceptual construct of what is projected and possibly needed in the future. It is not specific, is not a design document nor intended to provide a step by step process. It is based on what is known and observed, what might be anticipated in the future and what might be considered as appropriate based on known or observed best practices.

Results

SRMC was subsequently engaged to assist with the implementation of several of our recommendations to include the upgrade and replacement of their security systems platforms which had reached their end-of-life and support:

Provided a system design with drawings and specifications to replace the existing access control, video and intrusion detection platforms with the selected state-of-the-art systems
Provided full support throughout the bidding process and implementation phases of these systems
Tested and commissioned the replacement IP video system to validate that the installation adhered to the specified design criteria and was properly configured and functioning