Your school’s newest security camera might be its biggest cybersecurity risk.
Independent schools have invested heavily in campus security in schools over the past few years, adding cameras, access control, and visitor management systems to protect students, staff, and faculty.
That investment matters. But there’s a piece of the picture that often gets missed. Every one of those systems runs on the school network, which makes school network security part of the conversation too.
Every Camera on Campus Is Also a Computer
Campus security in schools looks different than it used to. The camera in the hallway and the badge reader at the classroom door double as computers on your network, connected to the same systems that hold email and student records.
Think about what a camera does once it’s installed. It runs its own software, and that software needs the same care as anything else on your network. The visitor kiosk in your front office works the same way, holding a login of its own and checking in constantly with the rest of your systems. A few things matter here:
- They’re online around the clock, sending and receiving data
- Their credentials often stay on factory defaults long after installation
That’s what makes physical security part of school network security too. When a camera gets compromised, an attacker can use it as a stepping stone into the rest of the network.
Here’s What Happens When Nobody Owns the Network Side
A security integrator usually installs the cameras and badge readers. IT security for schools usually falls to a separate provider or to an internal team already juggling a dozen other priorities.
Nobody ends up owning both sides of that relationship, and that’s exactly where the gaps start to show up. A few come up repeatedly:
- Unpatched Firmware: Manufacturers release updates to fix known vulnerabilities, but without someone assigned to install them, devices can run outdated software for years.
- Weak Default Credentials: Every device ships with a factory username and password. If installation stops at plugging it in, those defaults often stay in place indefinitely.
- Unsegmented Networks: When security devices sit on the same network segment as everything else, one compromised device can open a path to student records, staff email, and financial systems.
In June 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an advisory for a Brickcom IP camera line deployed worldwide, after researchers found the devices shipped with default credentials that let anyone with network access silently view camera feeds and take administrative control.
CISA rated the flaw 7.7 out of 10, in the High-severity band, under the CVSS 3.1 scoring system, as recorded in the National Vulnerability Database.
Why One Team Should Own Both Layers
The fix comes down to accountability. When one team designs the physical security layer and the network security layer together, covering every camera placement and every badge reader, gaps get caught before they open.
That team understands how the access control system talks to the visitor kiosk and how camera feeds route through the network, along with where each device needs its own protection.
This is the idea behind unified security systems. Physical security and IT security get planned, monitored, and maintained by the same team, rather than by two vendors who have never spoken to each other. For a school leadership team, this means:
- One point of contact who understands both the physical and the technical side
- Security decisions built with network risk in mind from the first design conversation
- Faster response when something needs attention, because the same team monitors both layers
How Secure360 Builds Security In From the Start
SecureWon’s Secure360 approach exists because of this exact gap between physical security and IT security.
Every system Secure360 designs, including campus cameras, access control, and visitor management, gets built with the same cybersecurity discipline SecureWon applies to a school’s core network.
This is what access control cybersecurity looks like in practice. Devices get placed on a properly segmented part of the network, and default credentials get changed before a system ever goes live. Firmware updates then get scheduled and tracked, the same way patches get managed across the rest of the school’s technology.
It’s the same assess, plan, remediate, and manage approach SecureWon uses everywhere else, applied to the cameras, badge readers, and kiosks that keep a campus safe.
One Question Worth Asking Your Security Vendor
For a quick gut check on where your school stands, ask your current security vendor this one question: who is responsible for patching, monitoring, and securing these devices once they’re installed?
If the answer points to your IT provider, and your IT provider already knows these devices exist, you’re in good shape. If the answer is unclear, or if your physical security vendor and your IT provider have never spoken to each other, that’s worth addressing before your next contract renewal.
Ready to See Where Your Campus Stands?
Cameras, badge readers, and visitor kiosks deserve the same protection as the rest of your network. A conversation with SecureWon can show you what a security-first approach looks like for your campus.
Book a call today and start closing the gap between physical security and IT security.
FAQs
- What does campus security in schools include today?
Campus security in schools now covers far more than door locks and hallway monitors. It includes IP cameras, access control systems, and visitor management kiosks, all of which connect to the school’s network and need the same protection as any other connected device. - How does school network security relate to physical security devices?
School network security and physical security are closely connected because cameras, badge readers, and kiosks all send data across the same network as email, grades, and financial systems. A vulnerability in one of these devices can expose the entire network when physical security and IT are managed by separate teams with no shared oversight. - Why does IT security for schools need to cover cameras and access control?
IT security for schools has traditionally focused on laptops, servers, and student information systems. Physical security devices deserve the same attention, because they run software, hold credentials, and connect to the network just like any other endpoint. - What is access control cybersecurity, and why does it matter?
Access control cybersecurity means giving badge readers, door controllers, and access management software the same security attention as any other network system. Weak or default credentials on these systems can let unauthorized users bypass physical security entirely. - What are unified security systems, and how do they help schools?
Unified security systems bring physical security and IT security under one accountable team, so cameras, access control, and network protection are planned, monitored, and maintained together. For schools, that means fewer gaps between vendors and a clearer picture of overall risk.
