Photo by Brand X Pictures
Installing security systems in layers around the facility will decrease chances of a major security breach.
By Brian Kraemer
A facility manager doesn’t have to look far these days to find potential security threats. Just recently, the terrorist attacks in London reminded the world that complacency cannot be tolerated, and adequate security measures need to be taken to ensure safety. A large corporate building that houses hundreds of people on a regular basis makes an attractive venue for an attack. Of course, a terrorist threat is not the only concern for the facility manager who needs to protect not only the people in the building, but also the valuable information that is stored within.
Determining the threat may be the most important aspect of creating an effective security system in any facility. By identifying a possible risk ahead of time, the facility management team should be able to customize a system that not only fits the needs of the building, but also provides a consistently good barrier against possible harm.
A multi-level security system could be the best option for many buildings. By identifying separate layers or zones of access to a building and then taking advantage of the best technology available, a facility manager will accomplish two things. First, by demarcating the building and its surrounding grounds into distinct zones, the team constructing the system will be forced to consider what kinds of attacks could occur at each level. For example, the security used to gain access to the server room will be different from the security used to enter the parking lot. That may seem like an obvious fact, but it begins to get a design team thinking about the differences in the kinds of threats each layer faces. This, in turn, forces the facility staff to consider each threat as it is dictated by the building.
Once the identity of the threat is determined on a zone by zone basis, the second objective of a well designed security system can be accomplished: to put in place preventive measures and technology that need to be implemented. On one hand, a biometric system may be needed to keep an intruder from gaining access to critical information. On the other, trying to implement the same system in a lobby will slow down how quickly occupants get into the building. One size doesn’t fit all.
Facility Involvement
A total redesign of a security system is an enormous task that should garner interest from everyone who resides in the building. From high level management to the entry level employee, feeling secure in the workplace is a critical factor not only in terms of productivity, but also in hiring and retaining workers. Simply said, safety will leave everyone in the building with a feeling of comfort.
A quality lock can help fortify the first layer of perimeter security when coupled with a fence. Securing the perimeter is one of the most important tasks a facility manager can partake in when beginning to design or redesign the security systems. Photo by IR/Ray Scroggins
However, being handed the task of refortifying the security of an entire building can leave a facility manager reaching for the antacids. Especially if the job is conceived of, and composed without, the facility manager being present.
Because the facility manager is responsible for running and maintaining every aspect of the building, to exclude him or her from discussions from the outset would be an act of irresponsibility. Bob Weinstein, director of operations control for Amityville, NY-based Continental Instruments, says “Given the level of involvement that a facility manager has in a building, he or she needs to be part of the decision making process from the outset.”
“The early stages of a new security system installation
may be too soon for a facility manager to dedicate his or
her full attention to the project,” says Dan Kropp,
CCP, president of D.H. Kropp & Associates based in Collegeville,
PA. “But it is likely that the architects or security
engineers are focused on their own tasks, which may be driven
by aesthetics or security function and not daily facilities
operations.”
A facility manager, as opposed to an architect, knows the actual day to day workings of the building as well or better than anyone else on the premises. Chances are also good that a security engineer won’t know that part of the HVAC unit is exposed and would make an easy target.
By being aware of, or involved in, the design talks from the very beginning, the facility management department will be able to provide the necessary insight to ensure the right measures are taken for the different layers of security that should eventually be installed.
The Perimeter
Before any sort of security breach can occur, a potential threat has to reach the building by arriving in a vehicle, on foot, or by some other less common method. The perimeter constitutes the first layer of security vulnerable to attack. But by considering how an intruder is going to get on to the premises, facility managers can plan contingencies to keep the threat away.
Advances in biometric security are making it a more feasible option for facility managers to install. Hand geometry readers, retinal scans, and fingerprint reader technology is becoming more accurate and reliable, and could provide the best option to keep intruders out of sensitive areas of the facility. Photo by IR/Ray Scroggins
Scott Perry, vertical market program manager for Carmel, IN-based IR Security & Safety, notes, “research shows that people who pose a security threat typically follow the path of least resistance and choose the easiest targets.”
A facility without a fence, exterior lighting, or any other type of external security would most certainly qualify as an easy target. By taking some relatively easy, low tech precautions, a facility becomes more difficult to access. It becomes something other than a target that offers little or no resistance and starts to become more formidable.
“Implementing visually appealing natural or architectural barricades can prevent cars from getting close to the walls of the facility and prevent a vehicle based attack,” says Ofer Azoulay, CEO and founder of SFW based in Los Angeles, CA.
But, Azoulay continues, good perimeter security doesn’t have to rely on new technology. “Sometimes the use of an old fashioned solution can be just as effective as technology, and at times, more effective than security systems. Using a heavy planter can block potential cars from storming into the facility.”
With an old fashioned solution to car problems as a workable solution, it may be beneficial to a building to investigate some more tried and true measures. People on foot also need to be considered and can be deterred if a facility manager has correctly identified possible threats.
“The real strength of the facility manager stems from preventive measures such as adding a fence and a gate, adding cameras, and obstructing the view of the facility from the street,” Azoulay continues. “Covering a fence, extending the wall or fence height around the building, and installing good lighting may be enough to make someone think twice about trying to get into a building.”
As the first layer of security that is encountered, the perimeter may not be the most sophisticated, but it is important to screen out potential threats. If it does its job, the next security layer will have an easier time doing what it must in order to prevent a higher level security breach.
