Episode #82
ISBA BURSARCAST // When Physical Security Becomes Digital Infrastructure ft. Net-Ctrl (2nd October 2026)
Physical security is no longer simply an estates issue. For schools, it increasingly sits at the intersection of IT, safeguarding, cyber security, operational resilience and governance . In this episode of the ISBA Bursarcast , Leo is joined again by Tom Piggott from Verkada / Net-Ctrl to explore how physical security is changing — and what that means for independent schools. They discuss the growing “IT-ification” of physical security , as CCTV, access control, alarms and environmental monitoring become increasingly connected to a school’s wider digital infrastructure. The conversation looks at why estates and IT teams need to work more closely together, and the cyber-security questions schools should be asking as more physical systems become networked. The episode also examines where AI is genuinely beginning to make a practical difference , from natural-language searches and automated alerts to identifying patterns within footage — while considering the equally important questions around permissions, privacy and data governance. Beyond security itself, Tom explains how connected systems can also provide useful operational insight, including environmental monitoring, space utilisation and understanding movement around the school estate. In this episode: What the “IT-ification” of physical security means for schools Why estates and IT teams increasingly need to work together The cyber-security questions schools should ask about connected security systems How to think about warranty, support and total cost of ownership Where AI is already having a practical impact on physical security The privacy and governance considerations that come with smarter systems How security infrastructure can support wider operational decision-making What schools should consider when reviewing ageing or fragmented systems A practical discussion for bursars, COOs, estates teams, IT leaders and senior staff considering whether their school’s physical security infrastructure is keeping pace with the way technology — and the risks surrounding it — are changing. GUEST: Tom Piggott, Verkada https://www.verkada.com/uk/ Find more from Net-Ctrl here:https://www.net-ctrl.com/ Member note: This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through ISBA and the relevant linked materials. Subscribe & Follow New episodes every Friday at 4 pm on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Acast. Email: podcast@theisba.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you. The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIO www.rafikistudio.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
