St. Cyril of Alexandria
St. Cyril of Alexandria partnered with Oculens and Verkada to transform campus safety with a unified, cloud-based security system funded through Homeland Security grants.
Category
Schools
Year
2025
Location
Tucson, Arizona
Project Brief
Firstly, we are happy to report that this project was also published directly on Verkada's website here:
St. Cyril of Alexandria Elevates Campus and Community Safety with Verkada
Like many schools today, St. Cyril faced mounting safety concerns with outdated infrastructure. Their analog cameras offered poor image quality and lacked remote access, making real-time monitoring impossible. Limited lighting and unsecured campus boundaries created blind spots, while the absence of modern access control left doors vulnerable. These gaps posed significant risks for students, staff, and parishioners—especially in an era where schools are under increasing pressure to prevent incidents and respond quickly to emergencies.
Budget constraints compounded the challenge. With aging equipment and no dedicated funding for upgrades, the school struggled to implement a solution that could meet modern security standards without disrupting operations. This scenario reflects a common reality for educational institutions nationwide: balancing tight budgets with the urgent need for advanced security technology.
Our Solution
Through a comprehensive risk assessment and strategic planning, St. Cyril secured three Homeland Security grants totaling $450,000. This funding enabled the deployment of Verkada’s integrated ecosystem—cloud-managed cameras, access control, intercoms, and alarms—all installed and configured by Oculens. The system introduced AI-powered alerts, real-time video monitoring, and centralized management through Verkada Command, accessible from any device.
Beyond hardware, the solution leveraged advanced software features like role-based permissions, SSO integration, and SCIM provisioning to streamline user management. Automated workflows and escalation paths improved emergency response, while visitor management tools enhanced campus safety without adding administrative burden.
This transformation not only solved St. Cyril’s challenges but also illustrates what’s possible for schools everywhere. By combining grant funding with modern, cloud-based security solutions, educational institutions can achieve proactive protection, operational efficiency, and peace of mind—without the complexity of legacy systems.
