Churches, synagogues and other places of worship are generally designed to be welcoming spaces where communities can come together to practice their shared faith. However, this tradition of openness can create security risks as the symbolic importance of these buildings can lead them to become targets of hate-fueled violence and vandalism.
In recent years, a shifting threat landscape has turned this sector into one of the most critical growth areas for security integrators. Highly publicized incidents of violence, vandalism and hate crimes have sent shockwaves through religious communities, and threats that once felt rare are now far more frequent.
A recent survey shows this reality: nearly half of worshippers who regularly attend services say they feel less safe today due to recent incidents of violence. As a result, many have changed how they attend services.
For security integrators, this represents both a responsibility and a significant opportunity. Many houses of worship are starting from minimal infrastructure, which means projects often begin with foundational assessments rather than system upgrades. Integrators who approach this market with a structured roadmap, instead of a product list, can differentiate themselves quickly.
Given the circumstances, integrators play an essential role in helping religious leaders to adopt modern security. The challenge is to improve safety in a way that protects the community while preserving a sense of sanctity, community, and togetherness. That balance between visibility and discretion should guide every design decision, from camera placement to access control policies.
What Does House of Worship Security Look Like Today?
For the most part, religious institutions have approached security informally up to this point. A volunteer agrees to monitor the door, or an off-duty police officer in the congregation might offer to keep an eye on things. Many rely on personal relationships with local law enforcement.
But today’s threat landscape requires more than security by convenience and good faith. Misinformation and extremism spread like wildfire across social platforms, and religious groups are brazenly targeted, often during their most festive holidays.
The recent mass shooting in Sydney’s Bondi Beach and the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., are two such examples. Yet, in a survey of worshippers who attend services at least once a month, one-third rated the security at their facilities as non-existent or minimal.
For integrators, this means most engagements will require education before specification. Faith leaders might be unfamiliar with modern layered security design, budget forecasting, or risk assessments. Leading with a site walk and simple threat assessment framework can help move the conversation from fear-based reactions to structured planning.
Integrators have the power to help faith communities adopt a more strategic, structured, tech-focused approach similar to practices in the private sector. A practical starting point is to break deployments into phases: perimeter visibility, controlled entry, internal monitoring and emergency coordination. Phased approaches make projects financially achievable while demonstrating incremental value.
Enhancing Safety Through Technology
Securing a church, synagogue or other place of worship requires the same level of planning as any other building where large groups gather. This strategic approach is critical to help faith communities better manage risk and respond effectively to threats.
Security integrators play a vital role in helping religious leaders understand where established protocols can be supported by technology.
Recommendations include:
- Artificial intelligence-enabled cameras in parking lots: Enhanced camera technology can provide critical visibility to stay ahead of potential threats. Parking lots are an ideal starting point since most incidents begin outside. These tools give teams time to spot unusual activity before it reaches the door. For example, loitering detection can alert staff early if someone lingers near an entrance or restricted area or alerts can be set to detect vehicles or individuals in the parking lot during off-hours. These allow volunteers or officers to investigate and address a potential threat proactively.
- Consider the realities of religious institution staff: For organizations without dedicated IT staff, Integrators should explain how cloud-managed systems can help reduce the need for on-site servers and ongoing maintenance. Designing systems that are simple enough for volunteers to manage without technical training will be essential for places of worship.
- Controlled access systems on all external doors: Access control technology ensures that only authorized individuals can enter certain areas and that side doors remain secure, especially during services. Integrators can recommend technology that allows places of worship to set time-based schedules that align with services and events. This preserves openness during peak hours while reducing vulnerability during off-hours.
- Guest management system with external screening capabilities: For houses of worship with youth programs or schools, a guest management system that can screen for registered sex offenders or known individuals who should not have access to those areas is an added layer of safety for a vulnerable population.
Together, these systems give small teams, which may be staffed part-time, the ability to easily manage incident response and law enforcement coordination – boosting efficiency and community safety.
Reducing Friction with Local Law Enforcement
Building a strong relationship with local law enforcement is also important for improving safety at houses of worship. Integrators can add measurable value by proactively engaging local law enforcement during the design phase. Understanding how responding agencies prefer to receive video, whether through live sharing, exported clips, or real-time access portals, can significantly reduce response times during emergencies.
A Clear, Achievable Path Forward
Many religious leaders are just beginning to consider how to address safety within their organizations. Security integrators are uniquely positioned to help them understand how the security environment has changed and where preparation and process can be combined with technology to dramatically improve outcomes.
It’s important for security integrators to remember that progress is made through simple, realistic steps that align with the congregation’s culture. Bring your expertise to the table: walking the property together often reveals easy fixes, such as better lighting, locks for entry points, or increased visibility in parking areas. Many improvements don’t require dramatic changes. You will become a trusted advisor by recommending simple habits, such as limiting which doors are used for entry and having a visible volunteer presence to reduce risk without disrupting services. These small, low-cost adjustments are often enough to make congregants feel more at ease while leadership evaluates larger investments.
Integrators who combine thoughtful design, operational simplicity, and sensitivity to congregational culture will build lasting trust in a sector that values relationships above all. By helping religious leaders make the best decisions for their congregations’ specific needs, houses of worship can remain what they were always meant to be: spaces of safety and trust.
Ben Jones is public safety advisor at Verkada.
