KIS International Schools
Key Metrics
2,000+ users seamlessly integrated into access control system across two campuses, including students, faculty, parents, and staff
100+ analog cameras successfully integrated into Verkada's cloud platform via Command Connectors, maximizing existing infrastructure investment
Minutes instead of hours to securely share incident footage with parents using selective face blur technology to support PDPA compliance
Real-time air quality monitoring with 15-minute averages displayed for swimming pool areas, addressing Thailand's critical air pollution concerns
Background
Established in 1998, KIS Bangkok has grown into one of Thailand's premier international schools, now in its 27th year of operation with 860 students enrolled. The school offers comprehensive International Baccalaureate programs including the Primary Years Program (ages 3-grade 5), Middle Years Program (grades 6-10), and Diploma/Career Programs (grades 11-12).
In August 2024, KIS expanded with the opening of KIS Reignwood Park, a sprawling 60-acre day and boarding campus located 50 kilometers from Bangkok. With over 200 students currently enrolled and capacity for more than 2,000, KIS Reignwood Park represents a significant investment in Thailand's international education landscape. The campus spans 148,000 square meters of building space—more than three times the size of the Bangkok campus.
Both campuses are situated in gated residential communities (Mooban), providing an additional layer of security while maintaining easy accessibility for the school community.
The Challenge
As KIS embarked on a three-year renovation of the Bangkok campus and opened the expansive Reignwood Park facility, leadership recognized that their security infrastructure needed a complete transformation. The challenges were multifaceted and urgent.
Aging Infrastructure at Breaking Point
The Bangkok campus relied on an older analog security system that had reached end-of-life. The fragmented setup required four different PC monitoring systems, creating an operational nightmare for security staff. The system offered no proactive monitoring capabilities, forcing security teams to manually review incidents after they occurred rather than preventing them.
"We know there are better ways to keep our students safe," explained Carolyn Mason Parker, Head of School at KIS Bangkok. "We know there are better ways to use the data and that we could be more accurate with the data that we have."
Emergency Response Limitations
A watershed moment came during an earthquake at the Bangkok campus, when administrators discovered areas for improvement in their emergency response capabilities. While security staff knew everyone was in school, they couldn't quickly account for all individuals during evacuation procedures or track unauthorized persons who might have entered during the emergency.
Privacy and Compliance Pressures
Parents would request access to video footage involving their children, but the school's antiquated system made this impossible without violating Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The default response had to be "no" because administrators couldn't protect the privacy of other students and staff appearing in the footage.
The Solution
KIS leadership chose Verkada after a recommendation from Tim Chappell, Director of Operations at KIS Reignwood Park, who had successfully implemented the system at Harrow School previously. The decision was reinforced when Carolyn connected with Verkada at a Singapore education fair.
"It was a relatively easy decision to make, to be fair," Carolyn reflected. "Tim said, 'What you need to do is speak to Jenny [Lee] from Verkada.' I spoke to Jenny, who listed everything. I was like, that is it. That is exactly it."
Comprehensive Security Ecosystem
KIS implemented a Verkada solution including cameras, access control (at entrance turnstiles), Guest (Verkada’s visitor management system), and air quality sensors. The solution spans both campuses, with access control managing approximately 2,000+ users including students, faculty, parents, drivers, and nannies.
At the Bangkok campus, access control manages entry and exit to the compact urban site. At Reignwood Park, the system extends between buildings, supporting the complex needs of a 24/7 boarding environment with multiple access points and ongoing construction.
Preserving Infrastructure Investment
Rather than discarding existing cameras, KIS utilized Verkada's Command Connectors to integrate 50-60 legacy cameras into the cloud-based platform. This strategic approach allowed the schools to maximize their previous infrastructure investment while gaining access to Verkada's advanced cloud capabilities.
The Outcome
Transforming Parent Relations Through Privacy-Compliant Sharing
The implementation of Verkada's selective face blur feature revolutionized how KIS handles parent requests for video footage. Previously impossible requests can now be fulfilled within minutes while helping to maintain full PDPA compliance.
"Parents feel that actually we are more transparent, we're not hiding things, we're open to them seeing things," Carolyn explained. "We can blur, we can frame it so they can just see the piece they need to see."
Tim at Reignwood Park described a specific use case: "There was a playground accident and the parent wanted to see how the accident occurred. In order to show the parent the footage, we had to blur out everyone's face for data protection reasons and safeguarding. That enabled the parent to see it was a genuine accident that resulted in the injury."
Air Quality Transparency
In response to Thailand's serious air pollution concerns, KIS deployed air quality sensors at swimming pools and other areas. The system provides 15-minute averages that can be shared with parents and staff, supporting informed decision-making about outdoor activities.
"Air quality monitoring is a major concern in Thailand, parents closely monitor AQI data," noted the school administration. The 15-minute averaging prevents reactive decision-making based on momentary fluctuations while maintaining transparency.
Seamless Multi-Campus Operations
The standardized system across both campuses enables seamless management and consistent safety protocols. "I love being standardized across the campuses," Carolyn noted, highlighting how the unified platform supports policy alignment and staff efficiency.
Despite first-day challenges including missing gates and traffic issues from other schools opening simultaneously, the community response was overwhelmingly positive. "By day two, it was fine. It was turning over much more quickly," Carolyn reported.
Emergency Response Revolution
The new system addresses the critical gaps exposed during the Bangkok earthquake. With Verkada's cloud-based platform, administrators can quickly account for all individuals during emergency situations and track unauthorized persons who might seek shelter on campus.
"With a system like Verkada, we can very quickly run through and make sure everybody's accounted for," Carolyn noted. "And if somebody isn't accounted for, we can track and know where they are."
Proactive Safety and Wellbeing
Beyond reactive security measures, Verkada enables KIS to identify and address issues before they escalate. The system supports proactive identification of bullying patterns and helps administrators spot safety concerns across campus environments.
"If you're looking for a student who's got some welfare issues and you need to find them quickly, this system can do that," Tim emphasized.
A Look Ahead
KIS plans to continue their standardization of physical security into the Verkada ecosystem with plans for additional 1,000+ cameras. The phased approach allows the schools to strategically invest in new capabilities while fully integrating existing systems.
The schools are exploring deeper integration possibilities, including connections with Microsoft Azure for streamlined user management. Future phases may include expanded access control for individual rooms and buildings as infrastructure renovations continue.
"To know that what you're buying is only ever going to get better rather than most things you buy degrade over time," Tim reflected on the value of Verkada's continuous platform updates.
With Thailand's growing international education sector and increasing focus on campus safety, KIS's implementation serves as a model for other institutions seeking to balance security, privacy, and operational efficiency. The success demonstrates how modern security technology can enhance rather than complicate the educational environment when thoughtfully implemented.
"It's all about the safety of the children," Tim concluded. "And with this system, it can help save lives."
