Cybersecurity has been a major focus of government agencies, but they are investing in physical security as well. The Department of Homeland Security, which bears much of the responsibility for federal government security, earmarked some $12 billion for physical security in 2024. The department asked for additional funding for its fiscal 2025 budget.
State and local governments have almost made physical security a top priority. Many of these investments have been focused on protecting critical infrastructure, such as public utilities and water supplies.
IT decision-makers are heavily involved in physical security projects. While traditional security systems use separate wiring to connect analog devices, today’s solutions incorporate Internet-connected devices and cloud-based platforms. Access controls, video surveillance cameras and other physical security devices are assets on the network to be managed like any other IT infrastructure.
The last thing IT teams need is additional complexity, administrative overhead and compliance headaches. The Verkada Platform for Government Organizations is a cloud-based solution that’s cost-effective, easy-to-manage and compliant with government standards.
Modernizing Physical Security Systems
IT modernization is another high priority among government agencies. Many agencies have legacy systems that are costly to maintain and difficult to integrate with the latest systems and applications. Upgrades are critical, but budget constraints and resource gaps often stymie IT modernization projects.
However, moving from traditional physical security systems to the latest digital solutions doesn’t have to involve a “rip-and-replace” upgrade. Best-in-class solutions can use existing wiring to connect network-enabled access control panels to existing locks. Digital surveillance cameras, environmental sensors and other devices can connect via Wi-Fi or cellular gateways. All of these devices then connect to software hosted in the cloud.
Users can access and monitor the platform via a web-based interface for streamlined, single-pane-of-glass management. The latest solutions also incorporate AI-enabled tools for searching and analyzing video footage.
Meeting Federal Standards
Federal agencies must follow strict regulations and guidelines for physical security measures. For example, federal agencies and contractors must comply with the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 889 and the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). These laws require that telecommunications and video surveillance equipment be manufactured or substantially transformed in designated countries.
Cloud-based physical security solutions must be FedRAMP Ready at the Moderate Impact level, signifying that they are suitable for handling sensitive but unclassified information. They must also comply with the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2, which defines the minimum security requirements for cryptography used in IT products and systems.
Although they are not legally required to do so, many state and local government agencies choose to implement security measures that align with or exceed federal standards. This is especially true when dealing with facilities that house federal employees or sensitive information. Federal standards also provide state and local governments with a useful benchmark for evaluating solutions.
The Verkada Platform for Government Organizations
The Verkada Platform for Government Organizations checks all the boxes for modernizing physical security systems. It features Verkada’s Command platform hosted in AWS GovCloud, which has the stringent security controls needed for government-grade solutions. Command also supports Verkada Guest, which enables government agencies to streamline visitor check-in and create a more welcoming experience.
Guest natively integrates with Verkada’s security cameras to track visitors as they move throughout government facilities. Verkada’s dome, bullet, PTZ, fisheye and multi-sensor surveillance cameras meet FIPS 140-2 standards and are TAA and FY2019 NDAA compliant. They also have durable, vandal-resistant designs and advanced computer vision features.
Verteks is a Verkada partner with the knowledge, training and experience to help government agencies take advantage of this powerful platform. We also have a long history of working with government agencies, and understand budgetary cycles, procurement contracts and system requirements. Let us help you update your physical security measures and protect your staff, facilities and infrastructure for today’s threats.
