What is the primary purpose of panic buttons in security systems?

• A. Record video
• B. Immediate lockdowns
• C. Disable doors
• D. Notify security only after incident

Answer: (B)

Panic buttons are all about fast, decisive action during an active threat. When pressed, they instantly alert security teams or monitoring centers and trigger the system’s lockdown procedures to restrict movement and isolate affected areas. This rapid alert and containment capability helps protect people and buys time for responders to arrive. Recording video is handled by cameras, not the panic button, and while a lockdown may involve securing doors, the button’s primary role is to start that response immediately rather than disable doors in a generic way. Waiting to notify after an incident defeats the purpose of a panic button, which is to shorten response time. So the emphasis is on immediate notification and containment, i.e., an immediate lockdown to limit access and protect people.