Lincoln County Schools (LCS) in North Carolina has significantly upgraded its security infrastructure with the implementation of Genetec™ Security Center. This move involves the integration of video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection systems across its various educational and support facilities, providing a cohesive security solution.
The district encompasses over 11,000 students across 23 schools, which include elementary, middle, and high schools, along with a technology and an alternative school. Additional facilities cater to district-wide services such as nutrition, transportation, and maintenance. Faced with aging security technology, LCS sought to modernise its systems for enhanced protection and efficiency.
Unified security features and flexibility
LCS prioritised a flexible security platform capable of unifying various systems and allowing for the retention of existing hardware. "Genetec™ Security Center offered us a great option," stated Steven Hoyle, Chief Technology Officer for Lincoln County Schools. "We have the features we need in one solution that’s easy to use and fits our budget."
The goal was to develop an open and unified platform to streamline management of the district’s video, access control, and intrusion systems. They aimed to connect other operational systems, such as their human resources database, to boost process automation.
Efficient integration and gradual hardware upgrades
This flexibility allows for re-evaluating needs and making informed decisions
Initial upgrades were implemented at the high schools, unifying video surveillance and access control systems through Genetec Security Center, complemented by Radionix intrusion detection. Upon completion, an extensive network of cameras, doors, and intrusion sensors will integrate via Genetec’s open architecture, empowering LCS to retain current hardware while transitioning to advanced technology over time.
“Genetec™ Security Center supports a wide range of third-party technologies, and that’s been a huge bonus for us,” Hoyle noted. The district can now balance improving security with cost management, updating at a suitable pace. This flexibility allows for re-evaluating needs and making informed decisions.
Process automation and reduced false alarms
LCS has further enhanced its security processes by digitising operations and integrating Microsoft Active Directory with its intrusion detection system through Security Center. This connection automates cardholder security privileges as personnel change roles or locations within the district. Automating access adjustments for new or departing employees has significantly reduced false alarms, as Hoyle explained: "Now, staff can badge in during set hours, and the intrusion system is automatically armed or disarmed. We’re seeing far fewer false alarms and fewer calls to law enforcement and our administrators."
As ongoing upgrades progress, LCS works with Genetec to expand its security capabilities and connect additional systems. This continued collaboration is aimed at facilitating more rapid and coordinated communication across the district, enhancing overall security effectiveness.
Genetec Inc., the global pioneer in enterprise physical security software, announces that Lincoln County Schools (LCS) in North Carolina has modernised its district-wide security infrastructure using Genetec™ Security Center, unifying video surveillance, access control, and intrusion systems across its schools and support facilities.
Lincoln County Schools serves over 11,000 students across 23 schools, including 13 elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, a technology school, and an alternative school. Four additional buildings support district-wide services such as school nutrition, transportation, and maintenance. As its existing security technology began showing its age, the district set out to modernise its systems.
Human resources database
“Genetec™ Security Center offered us a great option,” said Steven Hoyle, Chief Technology Officer for Lincoln County Schools. “We have the features we need in one solution that’s easy to use and fits our budget.”
At the top of LCS’s requirements was an open, unified security platform. The district wanted the flexibility to reuse existing video and access control hardware while upgrading devices as needed. It also sought to manage video, access control, and intrusion systems within a single solution and to connect other school systems, including the human resources database, to improve process automation.
Access control systems
LCS began upgrading its high schools’ video surveillance and access control systems, now unified as one in Genetec Security Center. They also added Radionix intrusion detection. When complete, hundreds of cameras, doors, and intrusion sensors across district buildings will be connected to the Genetec open architecture platform. This has also allowed the district to retain much of its existing hardware and to migrate to newer devices at its own pace.
“Genetec™ Security Center supports a wide range of third-party technologies, and that’s been a huge bonus for us,” explained Hoyle. “We have the freedom to keep some existing hardware, upgrade to newer devices, and integrate other business systems. This helps us find the right balance between enhancing security and managing costs. And we can do it at our own pace, taking our time to re-evaluate needs and make decisions from there.”
Reducing false alarms
LCS has also digitised processes by connecting Microsoft Active Directory and its Radionix intrusion detection system within Security Center. With Active Directory integration, cardholder privileges are automatically assigned based on job role and location. When employees join or leave the district, door and system access is activated or deactivated automatically.
Synchronising cardholders with the intrusion detection system has reduced false alarms. “In the past, intrusion alarms would sometimes be activated when someone was still in the building, resulting in many false alarms,” said Hoyle. “Now, staff can badge in during set hours, and the intrusion system is automatically armed or disarmed. We’re seeing far fewer false alarms and fewer calls to law enforcement and our administrators.”
As upgrades continue, Lincoln County Schools is working with Genetec to expand capabilities and connect additional systems to support faster, more coordinated communication across the district.
