What Does Physical Security Do?

Physical security measures are often viewed in simple terms: they are what keep the wrong people out.

Fair enough: that is the end goal, after all. But how do we accomplish that? Let's examine four key terms.

Deter: The first goal of any security plan should be to prevent threat actors from even attempting to breach your facility. By raising risks and presenting an impressive posture, outer perimeters can cause threats to move on to other targets. You don't have to look invincible, you just have to look like more effort and risk than the reward offers. Deterrence can take many forms. One of the most simple is perimeter fencing. This deterrent is further improved by increasing height, adding barbed - or better yet - razor wire, and posting signage along the fence. Additionally, any obvious security monitoring devices from the "detect" category can serve dual purpose as deterrents. The more visible security measures are present, the more likely it is more people will be deterred. Counterintuitively, the inability to see presumed security measures can be a deterrent as well. For example, an intruder may well figure out a way to bypass your fence sensors, but if he can't see past that into your facility, he can't plan ahead against other measures. By mixing posture with obscuration, you can make your facility an undesirable target.

Delay: The longer it takes an intruder to get to his target, the more uncomfortable he can be. In particular, the longer someone is forced to conduct suspicious actions, the less comfortable they can be. Delaying is obviously an excellent method for facilities with security guards, but it is equally valid for unguarded locations. Delays increase the chances of incidental discovery by casual observers or patrolling law enforcement personnel. When criminals have reason to fear that silent alarms may be present, they desire to work quickly to beat response times. Employ layered security and quality hardware to delay intruders.

Detect: In order to respond to a break in, the breach must be detected. If detected in real time, security guards or law enforcement personnel can attempt to interdict the criminals before they make their escape. If cameras log the activity and perpetrators, restitution may be possible after the event. Detection can come in many forms. Cameras, motion detectors, glass break sensors, radar systems, shake sensors, and ground sensors all have their place. When layered together, tools like these can provide a robust detection plan. Perhaps most important are people. Your personnel, and those of neighboring locations, can provide early warning of suspicious behavior. Receiving such warning requires proper culture and reporting mechanisms.

Deny: This is category that really is about keeping the wrong people out. When deterrence has failed, then access denial is essential. Walls, solid doors, proper locks and physical terrain can all be part of your denial plan. Robust physical barriers are the ultimate physical security tool. If you can deny access to your assets and personnel, your physical security plan will be successful.

Klaxon employs these concepts as a part of our broader analytical framework for assessing security. We use case studies, interviews, and past clients' experiences to inform our recommendations. If you would like to learn about your current security posture and how to improve it, contact us.