Session Abstract:

School safety professionals are increasingly dependent on technology systems that were never traditionally considered part of physical security. Access control, visitor management, video surveillance, emergency notification, transportation platforms, and student information systems all play critical roles in protecting students, staff, and school operations. When these systems fail—whether due to cyberattacks, outages, vendor disruptions, or human error—the impact extends far beyond IT and can create immediate physical security, operational, and life-safety challenges.

This session explores the growing convergence of physical security, cybersecurity, and operational resilience in K-12 environments. Through realistic school-based scenarios, attendees will examine how technology failures can affect access control, emergency communications, visitor screening, and incident response operations. Participants will learn the distinct roles of Incident Response Plans (IRP), Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), and Business Continuity Plans (BCP), and discover how a Business Impact Analysis (BIA) can help prioritize recovery efforts based on safety and operational impact—not just technology dependencies.

Designed for school safety professionals, School Resource Officers, security directors, administrators, and law enforcement partners, this session provides practical strategies for strengthening resilience and ensuring schools can continue to protect people and maintain critical operations when technology fails.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify How Technology Failures Create Physical Security and Safety Risks
• Differentiate the Roles of Incident Response, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity Planning
• Apply a School Safety Lens to Organizational Resilience Planning