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One Source Security was recently sent an email with an article titled something like, “Security Technology for Social Distancing.” We are purposefully paraphrasing here. Since we see the need for more tools to fight COVID-19 and future pandemic-type occurrences, we were eager to discover a new strategy for ensuring social distance.

This technology was… uncomfortable. Security cameras were trained on outdoor break areas where staff congregated. Boxes were painted on the ground. Staff were required to stay within a painted box. If people strayed from their box, too close to another person, a security alarm would sound. Additionally, if staff stayed in their box for too long (longer than their allotted break time), a security alarm would sound. This article contained a video demonstration of the security camera in action.

We are not going to link to this security camera here, because the technology itself is very interesting and useful. Perhaps it could help people maintain distance in crowded subways? This particular break room application of the technology is, however, not likely to encourage productive employee / employer relationships.

At One Source Security, we like to view security holistically. After all, that is the purpose of these integrated systems- to provide a holistic view of potential threats. Any way you look at it, alienating staff is bad for security. Disengaged employees are more likely to steal, call out sick, and be less productive. And disgruntled employees pose a deadly threat to security. Employers must not forget that their employees can be both a wonderful asset and a surprising danger.

When making security decisions, employers must consider health, safety, AND engagement. COVID-19 has changed the way we work, but it hasn’t changed our basic humanity. We can socially distance without being yelled at by a security camera.

One main component of security is prevention, and security cameras are a chief player in this equation. They need to be seen. What good would hidden cameras be if you’re trying to prevent a crime from happening in the first place?

The image above shows a visible exterior security camera.

If you’re going to make your security cameras visible by others, position them up high enough and/or use vandal resistant security cameras and housings.

One could argue that having signs posted that announce that you’re using video surveillance may help, but there’s nothing like someone seeing the cameras themselves. And of course a mixture of the two is ideal.

And what about “dummy” security cameras? Are these effective enough to use as your visible cameras? Be careful, many thieves can see right through these. They often know a real from a fake and it may not deter them.

A common giveaway that a security camera is a dummy is that its red light flashes several times once you walk by, or maybe it pans. This is just a reaction to motion but no viewing or recording is taking place.

If you have hidden cameras, and they end up doing their job by capturing quality video footage of criminals, those people still need to be found and prosecuted after-the-fact. And hopefully then, maybe you can still get your property back or have restitution paid to repair any damage. This isn’t always the case.

This is not to say that hidden or covert security cameras don’t have their place. If an employer is trying to capture bad behavior by an employee on video as evidence to fire him or her, for example, they certainly are very effective.

If your security cameras are hidden, one way to make them more effective is to use remote video monitoring–sending you email alerts real time. This can help prevent the difficulty of pursuing the offenders after-the-fact as mentioned above. It allows the owner to be alerted real-time so he or she can contact the authorities and respond.

The best solution of course is to have a mix of the two types of video surveillance. We’re not trying to straddle both sides of the fence in answer to the title of this blog post—it really is a great way to go if you have covert cameras and visible security cameras together.

But if you had to choose one type, as detailed in the beginning of this article, you may want to consider visibly posted security cameras in and around your property. This is the best way to prevent crime from happening in the first place.

All the headaches of filling out police reports, insurance paperwork, dealing with the emotional distress and repairing the physical damage may never happen if you are able to prevent the crime from happening from the outset.

Thanks for spending some time with us today.

Taking some precautionary steps today can make your church a safer and more secure place for staff and members. It’s important to create a security plan that allows the church to stay vigilant yet maintain the open and welcoming feeling a congregation expects.

Create a church security team; include members who have military, police and medical backgrounds. They can be advisors, or the emergency action response team in charge of training ushers, parking lot attendants and volunteers in the event of an emergency.

Perform a risk assessment of the church; invite a professional security company to help with the assessment. They know the right questions to ask. In recent years, attacks against churches have gone up in number along with the level of violence. Dangers like theft, assault, killings, child abduction and arson have tragically occurred in our local churches. One contributing factor to these crimes may be due to a perceived lack of security. Churches are thought of as soft targets.

Gone are the days of leaving church doors open for the wandering soul to find refuge. Crime is a painful reality for the church community today. Church leaders are either improving or developing safety and security strategies for their churches.

Establish procedures and strategies based on the security needs discovered during the assessment. Establish notification and lockdown procedures in the event there is a fire, active shooter or other incident. The plan should include where people should go, what they should do and then communicate the plan to the congregation. Train staff and volunteers how to respond appropriately when an incident occurs.

Have a Sunday school sign in and checkout system in place. This can be a sticker-based tracking system or a software attendance program.

A monitored security system has the ability to dispatch law enforcement, fire department and medical services quickly. (Remember your trained team will have a procedure to follow.)

Video surveillance in office areas, sanctuary, nursery and church school rooms, gathering places, entrances, and parking areas enhances security. Just the presence of video cameras can deter someone with malice intent from striking. In addition, video surveillance can protect against false accusations especially concerning interactions with children.
Control access to buildings by installing key pads at access points and a video intercom at the office building entrance. Create a single entrance into the church on Sundays or during large gatherings. Make sure ushers or greeters are at all doors before and during service and large gatherings.

Hire off-duty police officers, their presence alone can be a deterrent.

In conclusion, as a church leader today, security must be a priority. We have seen some very troubling and fatal reasons why churches should not leave their doors open to the public unattended. As we said earlier, gone are the days of churches leaving their doors open all the time.
Whether you’re looking to assess risks and identify vulnerabilities, or revisit and review policies and procedures, One Source Security can help you.
Reduce security risks by being proactive. One Source Security would be happy to provide a FREE security audit of your church, call us today at 800-570-6478 to set up your appointment. We can help you create a security solution that meets your needs today with the ability to upgrade as your church expands.

Since hospitals are generally easy to walk into and wander around inside, electronic security needs to be as strong as possible to compensate. Especially with violent acts occurring nationwide, such as those by disgruntled patients.

Decision makers certainly want effective hospital security, but they tend to not desire an overly present force—they don’t want to raise fears. So there can be a challenge to provide both sufficient personnel as well as an abundance of electronic security while maintaining a relaxed environment.

Hospital security is needed due to the fact that hospitals themselves are also targets. They house expensive equipment, computers, drugs, even precious babies that can be the center of controversy. We’ll cover these, as well as other areas in the ten points that follow.

We’ll talk about how the main tenants of security (CCTV, Access Control and more) apply.

ER and waiting room. Access control and video surveillance are important in these areas. In regard to access control, a focus must be made between these two areas in order to limit who can enter the emergency department from the very public waiting room. Emotions run high and family members are desperate to see their relatives inside, but the professionals need the space to do their work. A proximity or swipe card system can be in place to only allow authorized personnel to enter.

Video surveillance will allow the security department to monitor any disturbances in this aforementioned cauldron of emotion and public gathering during tense situations.

Pharmacy and other drug concentrations. Access control can be used where credentials are required to be presented to a card reader so an audit trail is established. This way, a record is kept of who came and went, and when. Video surveillance can even be used in conjunction with video analytics software to trigger an alarm in the security office if a person enters during an unauthorized time, etc.

Administraton / record keeping. Due to HIPPA standards, for instance, access control is necessary in these areas to establish the audit trail mentioned above.

Nurse stations / patient rooms. Nurse call stations are essential for patients who require critical and timely care. A simple press of a button summonses the nurse station from the patient’s room.

Intercom can also be set up inside the patient rooms.

Ambulance ports / parking lots / loading docks. Security departments need to have a solid grip on these exterior locations via video surveillance. Ambulance entrances need to be kept clear and monitored for proper personnel to be present. Thefts and accidents happen in parking lots and garages, so having video evidence to solve disputes and help catch thieves and vandals is effective. And finally, loading docks can be loose in their access control. Having card readers to solidify who can enter and exit with proper authority and having security cameras for the security department to be able to monitor are essential.

For instance, employee theft of expensive equipment can occur through this area.

Retail / other cash handling areas. This goes without saying. Security Cameras, especially megapixel technology which allows for better facial recognition than traditional analog security cameras, not only provides evidence of a robbery or theft, but also provides a deterrent.

Panic buttons that transmit to the security department or to police can be set up under the cashier’s counter also.

Maternity / nursery. You can’t argue that this is the most valued of all areas to protect. Access control in conjunction with video can be used at the department entrance so the nurse station can control who enters, and just as importantly, who exits.

Ankle bracelets can be worn on the babies’ legs to trigger an alarm if they’re carried out past a certain point.

ICU / Surgical areas. Just like controlling entry to the ER as we mentioned earlier, access control needs to be established for entry into these highly sensitive departments.

Psychiatric unit. Video surveillance and “wander alarms” will help the security department and nurses control the retention of patients inside this department. Wander alarms trigger if a door or window is opened. The caregiver’s pendant vibrates or buzzes to indicate that the patient has opened a door or window and is about to leave.

Elevators / corridors / lobbies. These highly public areas require video surveillance for security to maintain order. Among the things that can be done with the aforementioned video analytics software is to people-count. This helps with personnel positioning, staffing, etc.

The above are certainly not the only areas in a hospital that require security, but these ten certainly would be considered important nonetheless.

Thanks for spending some time with us today.

Have you recently called a locksmith because your door doesn’t seem to be closing properly? It may need a little push or an extra tug to get it to close securely. Your door may be ailing because of age or excessive use, which can make your facility vulnerable to a break-in. You realize it is time to call a professional locksmith. Remember to choose a locksmith with door repair expertise.

When a professional locksmith arrives on the job, he should be prepared to look at not only the lock, but the hinges, door and door frame. After inspecting all areas, the issue may not be the lock; for example it may be that the door frame needs to be re-squared.

Using a locksmith who is prepared to not only change a lock but replace routine items without another service call can save you money. When a locksmith is called out to a job their goal is to leave the door working at its optimal performance. A professional locksmith can size up a situation quickly and develop a solution which best suits the clients needs.

Whether a locksmith is installing hardware, locks, an access control system or standalone keypad, the door and door frame should be inspected to ensure optimal working conditions of the door. It is only as secure as its weakest link.

Using a locksmith with the ability to inspect and repair doors is a valuable asset. We are a full service security company with a full service locksmith division prepared to handle unique situations. Call us today for all your locksmith needs at 800-570-6478.

When pharmacies are burglarized, thieves are not usually looking for money, their desire is narcotics. They will try to gain access to a pharmacy through the roof, doors or breaking windows, as well as boldly holding up the store during business hours. These criminals usually are addicted to the drugs they steal. Prescription drugs are the second most abused category of drugs in the US, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

There are multiple ways to safeguard a pharmacy. Installing video surveillance inside and outside the pharmacy may deter thieves from robbing the pharmacy if they see the cameras. Video surveillance can also be used to keep an eye on the pharmacists and the technicians, making sure the prescriptions are filled correctly. Use IP cameras which will give more detail than an analog camera, with a DVR, allowing police to see what took place before, during and after a robbery.

With the use of access control to the pharmacy section of the store, as well as drug cabinets, access can be given to only those who are authorized to be in the pharmacy area, and access can be quickly and easily terminated when an employee leaves. Using a centrally monitored access control system would allow only authorized personnel to program the system, schedule access times for specific employees to access the pharmacy area and drug cabinets. Audit trails will reveal who accessed which area, when and the failed attempts to access those secured areas. At a local pharmacy the pharmacist or technician can reach over the half door and open it from the outside. This doesn’t seem to be the best way to deny access to prescription drugs.

Always use your alarm system. When an alarm system is used sporadically the false alarm rates may be higher. Also, install a silent alarm or duress button which is used to silently notify police of an incident in progress or immediately following.

Use safes to securely lock up narcotics. This can provide a safe and more secure environment for the controlled substances. If the break-in occurs at night or when the pharmacy is closed, they may not be able to access the narcotics in the safe at all.

Glass break sensors and security glass laminates can be used on windows. When a window is broken the sound will trigger an alarm. When security glass laminates are installed on windows and doors they become smash-resistant and bullet-resistant (with some of our laminates, to NIJ standard level 3A), when applied to ordinary windows. These laminates are more cost efficient than replacing windows with bullet-proof glass.

Test your alarm system on a monthly basis. Inspect security cameras and the recorded data to ensure they are functioning properly. Install adequate lighting outside and leave it on after hours. When an employee leaves change access codes, alarm codes and safe combinations. Never have one person open and close.

If you are the victim of a robbery, cooperate fully; remember your primary concern is the safety of everyone in the store. After the robber leaves sound the alarm and call the police. Lock the doors (the robber may come back) until police arrive, and ask customers to stay and give a statement. Remember do not to touch anything.

Call today for a FREE ASSESSMENT of your pharmacy.

Whether you are a company with one building and a couple of employees or a company with multiple facilities and hundreds of employees, we can design, install, and implement a security, access control and video surveillance system for your business with the ability to control it from a Smartphone, tablet or computer.

PremiSys is a comprehensive access control and security solution packed with valuable features, from restricting door access to viewing video and more. Issues can be addressed faster than ever, right down the hall, from another facility or across the country.

With PremiSys software, accessing your system through a Smartphone, tablet or computer allows the administrator to:

• Receive automatic notifications when an event occurs, such as a propped open door after entry
• Remotely arm and disarm the system
• Have the ability to remotely deactivate credentials
• Lock and unlock doors from anywhere
• Take photos with a Smartphone or tablet, and then use the photo to create and print ID badges remotely

PremiSys is compatible with surveillance technology from many of the industry’s leading providers, including Avigilon. With the integration of a video surveillance system, security can check live or recorded video against the swiped ID photo to ensure they match. Use “Photo Recall” to display a cardholder photo as a door is accessed; ensuring the right person is using the card.

Other Benefits include:

Maximum door control:

• Set alarms if a door is propped open after entry, or forced open
• Schedule lock and unlock times for doors
• Alarm mapping shows where on your premises an alarm is coming from

Detailed data:

• Detailed reports provide useful information for the monitoring of your system

Cardholder management:

• Assign specific access rights to each user
• Create access groups to which users can be assigned
• Grant different levels of access to each group

Video integration:

• Adding surveillance equipment makes PremiSys an even more powerful access control system
• Call up recorded video from a specific point in time
• View Video from the moment an alarm was triggered
• Check multiple angles for a single door.

PremiSys offers a comprehensive list of features, making it an ideal facility security system for schools, offices, laboratories and more.

We will work with you to craft the perfect security solution for your site, to include access control, video surveillance, security and state of the art locks. Call One Source Security today for a free evaluation of your facility, 800-570- 6478.

In this article we will discuss the need for thermal cameras in both public and private buildings.

After months of summer sunshine and outdoor socially distanced fun, COVID-19 infection rates are rising. Temperatures are dropping and flu season is beginning. Those of us with compromised immune systems must again barricade ourselves in our homes and have our groceries delivered. But most of us resolve to go on with our lives. We will go to work. Our children will go to school or daycare. And every witnessed cough and sneeze can send our thoughts spinning toward the worst-case scenario.

But we are not helpless. We can use technology to combat the spread of COVID-19 and flu. Thermal temperature taking technology should be our first line of defense against illness at work or school. But why thermal cameras? Why not just use hand held thermometers?

1. Thermal temperature cameras are accurate.

Our thermal cameras are accurate within 0.54 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest accuracy rating available for non-contact thermometers. Additionally, these cameras rarely malfunction or provide dramatically
“off” readings.

1. Thermal temperature cameras are efficient.

The Thermal Temperature Monitoring Solution, available at One Source Security, is efficient. This technology can accurately take multiple temperatures at once and is ideal for a school, manufacturing, or warehouse situation. Anywhere large groups of people enter a building at the same time is the perfect place for a thermal temperature monitoring solution. See the thermal temperature camera in action here.

The Thermal Temperature Kiosk, available at One Source Security, is an efficient option for a place where people enter in a more staggered manner. This camera can also be programmed to ask Covid-19 related safety questions. See this thermal camera in action here.

1. Non-Contact

Thermal temperature cameras are non-contact and people are not required to operate them. These cameras work all on their own. That means businesses and schools do not have to tie up personnel taking endless temperatures and staffers can go about their typical workday.

1. Manageable

Thermal temperature cameras provide live alerts to staff equipped to manage illness. Asking a teacher or receptionist to perform the work of school administration or HR is not always a good idea. Discussing illness can be a sensitive subject. These difficult conversations are best left to those staffers equipped with the training to handle the conversation with tact and care.

One Source Security’s thermal cameras accurately and effectively allow people to come together in a safe way. These non-contact cameras provide the correct information to the correct people.

Keeping students and staff safe at school is extremely important today.

We know that school administrators want students and staff to be safe, as well as be prepared in the event of an unforeseen incident.

An effective, unique access control system can be created to meet your individual school needs. By starting with a few key questions:

• What’s your plan in the event of an intruder or similar emergency?
• What’s your policy for processing guests/visitors/contractors?
• Can you effectively control access to the different areas of the school?

Lockdown/Lockout – When it comes to intruders, time is of the essence. Having the ability to lockdown and lockout intruders can isolate a threat and protect students, teachers and staff.

The lockout/lockdown feature of an access control system allows the user to immediately lock all doors in the system. Or lock individual doors, wings or buildings.

Lockout usually refers to exterior doors by preventing the threat from entering or exiting the building. It also can mean isolating the threat in a section of the building, by locking them out of other populated areas of the building.

Ultimately, this allows an administrator to instantly secure a building with the press of a button.

Visitor management systems – Controlling access to a building can be as simple and easy as using expiring visitor badges; with a glance, staff can see who belongs and who does not.

With an enhanced visitor management system the administrator has the ability to check against criminal/sex offender databases during the check in process. A school sign-in process is the first line of defense.

Credentials, readers and wireless locks – Today, schools can control access to their schools, with the use of credentials, readers and wireless locks. It’s time to take stock of who is able to access your school. Different levels of personnel are going to have different levels of access to different parts of the building or buildings.

Having too many cards or keys floating around is a clear security risk. Using access cards instead of physical keys allows access to be monitored from a central software program. Missing cards can be turned off with a click. Digitally disable terminated employees credentials quickly and easily.

Call One Source Security today at 800-570-6478 to create your individual access control system.

If you are a parent heading back to work after having kids, you are not alone. According to a Pew Research Center report, 17 percent of US households have a mom working at least part time, and 46 percent of U.S. households include two full-time working parents, and that leaves children who need care, most of them outside of the home environment.

On top of that, the distressing feelings that encompass leaving your child range from emotions of anxiety to fear, sadness, trepidation and guilt. Unfortunately, on an all too common basis, school shootings and child abductions get major news coverage and send parents and childcare providers scrambling to ensure their children are safe. While the likelihood of a childcare center being the target of an active shooter is relatively slim, it’s easy to imagine a facility dealing with a contentious custody dispute between two parents.

The National Center for Abused and Exploited Children estimates 203,000 children are kidnapped every year by family members. Seven percent of those children are taken from their school or childcare center and these are alarming situations that providers need to plan for and parents need to make sure are in place to ensure the safety of their child.

Childcare providers are legally responsible for the children in their care so strong security is a must-have at any facility to ensure that all possible precautions are taken to protect a child’s well-being.

One Source Security prides itself on protecting our most precious assets – children. We have been designing, installing and servicing schools and other education entities for many years with superior success.

Childcare licensing rules vary from state to state and many do not include any specific security requirements, so choosing the right facility for the safety of your child is an utmost concern for peace of mind.

Some of the child care-specific security measures we provide for licensed daycare facilities include:

•Access Control, including ID / Badging / Key Fob access – from design to creation; Prevent unwanted visitors from entering – even the vestibule, track who went where and when, integrate with time/attendance software; Keypad security is an excellent option for large centers, requiring each family member or person to have a unique code or simply their fingerprint. If someone is legally prohibited from picking up a child, their code, fingerprint, card or fob access can be completely removed from the system and they won’t get past any entry.

•Video Intercom – Providers can identify visitors before they have access to an entry door

•Chime indication when a child exits a door

• Video Surveillance – Remote Video Monitoring (view your center from any location, including on your phone), upgrade to IP & Megapixel Technology, integrate with Access Control
• Panic Notification – Press of one button immediately alerts police
• Emergency Lock Down Systems – Lock all doors immediately with the swipe of one card
• Universal locks that lock from the inside requiring staff to buzz parents into the center
• Smash resistan film for glass
• Locksmith Services – Bolster doors, frames and door hardware, Energy/Safety audit on doors, fire exit safety, ADA improvements
• Environmental Monitoring – Carbon Monoxide and Flood Detection, Hi/Low Temperature Monitoring

So, when choosing where your most precious asset will spend the day, consider these precautions to ensure their utmost safety and allow you some peace of mind. One Source will help assess your risks, needs and possible security weaknesses before we design your system. We are an advisor and will offer preventive advice, so you can avoid many potential problems altogether. We customize each system to suit the end-user’s specific needs.

Call us today for a free assessment at 603-645-5969 or email us at [email protected].