School administrators in McAllen, TX, face immense pressure to protect students and staff following high-profile security incidents. While the public often demands immediate, highly visible security upgrades, administrators must balance these expectations against strict budget constraints and the practical realities of daily campus operations.

The natural impulse is to "overbuild"—to harden a facility until it resembles a fortress. However, effective security is rarely the result of extreme physical fortification alone. True safety requires layered planning and strategic technology integration. Projectile-resistant film supports a broader response strategy rather than acting as a standalone silver bullet.

The warning signs can be subtle when burglary or vandalism attempts begin. A vehicle enters a lot. Someone pauses near a door. By the time staff notice something suspicious, they’ve already had a chance to cause damage. In many commercial facilities in McAllen, traditional cameras only document what went wrong. Instead, systems that incorporate video analytics identify risks early. Below, we outline an example of how Verkada video analytics can help a commercial facility interrupt a theft attempt and support ongoing investigations. 

Video surveillance systems may primarily be a form of deterrence for businesses in McAllen, TX, but that’s not their only purpose. They should also aid in active investigations and in keeping your team accountable. However, traditional systems generate massive amounts of footage, which become a chore for security personnel to sift through. There may not be enough time to thoroughly review it all and find relevant information, or it may simply fall through the cracks. 

Verkada’s cloud-based video surveillance addresses this issue directly with their smart search and event tagging features that make it easy to find footage in seconds. Any incident on your property is easy to investigate, based on the time it occurred or descriptions of the perpetrator. 

Upgrading your business access control shouldn’t mean forcing employees to accept solutions that don’t make sense. Your commercial property already has card readers, employee badges, and security protocols in place. The challenge is modernizing these systems without big costs or interruptions. 

Verkada access control supports traditional credentials, as well as mobile options. That means you don’t need to completely change workflows to modernize and enhance your overall security. Your business gains enhanced security features without the need for disruptive replacements or starting from scratch.