Unified campus protection delivered in the cloud Unified campus protection
Griffith University unifies security across its multi-campus network using Genetec Security Center SaaS, enabling cloud-based monitoring, faster investigations, and scalable ANPR.
Key outcomes
- Manages 400+ camera streams across campuses on Genetec™ Security Center SaaS, replacing a standalone solution with limited investigation capability
- Cut investigation time from days to hours using visual tracking and investigation tools
- Enabled per-campus access controls so each security team sees only their own cameras
- Integrated AutoVu™ ANPR for seamless parking management across staff and visitor vehicles
- Scalable cloud foundation ready to onboard new locations without additional IT overhead
The company
Griffith University in Queensland, Australia consistently ranks in the top 2% of universities worldwide. With around 50,000 students and staff spread across campuses in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Logan, it is one of Australia's most geographically dispersed higher education institutions. Each campus has its own distinct security needs: the Brisbane South (Nathan) campus is set in a 260-hectare bushland reserve, while the Gold Coast campus operates as a public-facing hub with health clinics and major transport links.
The challenge
Griffith University first procured Genetec solutions in 2016, transitioning from analog to a standalone cloud-based system, Stratocast, which served them well for nearly a decade. Over time, security requirements evolved: more locations to manage, camera access restrictions that created bottlenecks, and security officers unable to monitor their areas in real-time. Each campus also faced unique security profiles (from dark bushland pathways to open public-facing health facilities) requiring a more flexible, investigation-ready platform.
Why Griffith University Chose Genetec
After learning about the investigation capabilities and scalability offered by Security Center SaaS, the decision to remain with Genetec was clear. Security Center SaaS offered everything the university needed: cloud-based infrastructure that eliminated on-premise server management, user access controls that could extend to campus security teams, and advanced investigation tools that would streamline incident response.
The Solution
One platform, every campus
Today, the security team manages approximately 400 camera streams across all campuses using Security Center SaaS. The cloud-native solution allows access to be granted to security officers at each location while maintaining centralised oversight. Campus partitioning means each team sees only their own cameras, keeping operators focused on what matters most. To streamline migration from Stratocast, Griffith enlisted Genetec Professional Services, working remotely from Canada and Australia to bring cameras online smoothly while the security team continued day-to-day operations.
Faster investigations, from days to hours
Since implementing Security Center SaaS, the most notable impact has been in investigations. During a recent theft incident, the team identified a person of interest on one camera, tracked their movement across the campus, and determined both arrival and departure times, without manually reviewing hours of irrelevant footage. Investigation tools have also enhanced evidence quality, enabling precise movement timelines with supporting footage for police and university administration.
Built for bushland, beaches and beyond
One of Griffith's unique challenges is the diversity of its campus environments. At the Brisbane South (Nathan) campus, dark pathways and bushfire risk demand real-time environmental monitoring. Expanded camera coverage provides visibility if someone needs help after dark, and strategic placement enables early detection of smoke or fire. Security Center SaaS supports different camera densities, monitoring priorities, and custom access privileges across locations from a single platform.
A scalable foundation for what comes next
Security Center SaaS connects seamlessly with Griffith's existing AutoVu™ automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system, ensuring smooth parking for staff and visitors across the network. The platform's scalability means adding new locations (including Griffith's upcoming central business district location at Brisbane's historic Treasury Building) is a configuration exercise rather than a major infrastructure project, with no additional IT overhead required.
“Universities like Griffith are managing complex multi-campus security with lean teams, making cloud-based infrastructure essential. Security Center SaaS gives them the ability to monitor five diverse campuses without adding IT overhead. Our Professional Services team worked closely with Griffith with various upgrades and migrations to ensure a smooth transition while their security operations continued uninterrupted."
Brad Ferguson, Genetec Customer Experience Manager, Oceania and APAC
Results
Since implementing Security Center SaaS, Griffith University has transformed how its security teams operate across a geographically dispersed network. Centralised cloud infrastructure has eliminated on-premise server management, freeing the lean security team to focus on operations rather than maintenance. Campus partitioning, role-based access, and seamless ANPR integration have streamlined day-to-day monitoring across every location.
Investigation capabilities have had the most immediate impact, reducing what once took days to a matter of hours. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand camera coverage by approximately 20%, focusing on remote pathways, public-facing areas, and enhanced coverage at key sites. The scalability of Security Center SaaS means this growth requires no major architectural changes, supporting a long-term, cloud-first security strategy across an expanding university network.