It still beggars belief how schools went from being safe havens to being plagued by major security threats, including active shooters, student violence, and fatal accidents.
Modern schools face complex security challenges and growing concerns about expert handling. There are numerous reports of unauthorized entries into school environments, cybersecurity breaches threatening data and financial infrastructure, and violent attacks among students or staff. Responding to these issues becomes imperative, especially in implementing preventive measures across schools.
However, many schools are stuck with old security protocols that don’t deliver any of the needed security features. Staff, students, and administrators live with a constant sense of fear rising from the inability of school management to implement modern security structures and strategies.
One challenge preventing school authorities from implementing modern school security is the worry that they militarize the school environment. But Jake says ‘Schools don’t need militarization. They need robust planning and intelligence-backed security strategies.’ He says the best strategies are practical and don’t tamper with the peaceful educational environment.
Fortified Risk Group (FRG), co-owned by Jake Williams, is leading with strategies to help schools remain safe in 2025 and beyond.
He recommends FRG’s three pronged approach – Qualified Armed Security, physical infrastructure in place, and training for staff ‘Every school’s security strategy starts with a comprehensive analysis of the entire facility, people, operations, and vulnerabilities. Following the assessment, responsive and preventive security plans will be drawn up, leading to the implementation of all necessary security protocols and systems,
According to Jake and FRG, there are several must-have elements for school security in 2025 and beyond. They include:
- Visitor and Access Control Management: Rather than implementing prison-like access points, the idea is to have smart gatekeeping with camera-monitored entrances, ID verification, digital visitor logs, automated lockdown systems, and different levels of access for different areas, including classrooms.
- Active monitoring and surveillance: FRG advises schools to implement active surveillance rather than passive incident recording. They recommend AI-powered security cameras to track movement and live monitoring systems for security teams; all integrated with emergency communication systems.
- Emergency communication systems: It is important for emergency messages to reach staff, students, and security agencies immediately if there is a security threat. FRG encourages schools to implement mobile alerts for school staff, alert systems for first responders, and emergency drills for everyone.
- Armed and qualified security agent(s) – to deter, detect, prevent, and/or respond to an emergency.
- Cybersecurity protocols: Cybersecurity systems are essential for protecting digital study materials, learning platforms, and student data. FRG recommends cybersecurity evaluation, digital access control, activity monitoring, and the implementation of external threat protection.
- Behavioral threat identification: FRG teaches school administrators and staff how to identify threatening behaviors before they lead to violence, report such concerns immediately, and work with security and mental health teams when necessary to handle such issues.
In addition to these strategies, Jake says training is a non-negotiable aspect of school security. In his words ‘Technology cannot stop security threats alone. People need to respond, and these people must be trained.’
FRG designs customized training packages for school administrators, teachers, and security teams to suit the unique characteristics of each school.
Fortified Risk Group encourages schools to implement inclusive security challenges for better impact, including involving staff, parents, and students in the security culture.
Looking ahead, Jake says school safety is set to top regional and national agenda, with plans and strategies for school protection. Firms like the Fortified Risk Group are helping schools implement security strategies in 2025, combining planning, training, and technology.
In the end, school security isn’t about the biggest budgets and the strictest protocols; it is in the intentionality of securing students, staff, and infrastructure.
To learn about FRG’s school security services, visit www.fortifiedrisk.com.