SecurityArena

Personnel Access Controls

Piggybacking. When an individual gains unauthorized access by using someone else’s legitimate credentials or access rights. One way to control piggybacking is through use of Mantrap. The entrance is routed through a set of double doors that may be monitored by a guard.

Electronic access control (EAC) tokens. It is a generic term that is used to describe proximity authentication devices, which can be proximity readers, programmable locks, or biometric systems, which identify and authenticate users before allowing them entrance into physically controlled areas.

Wireless Proximity Readers

• User activated. It means that user actually has to do something, e.g. swipe the card or enter a PIN.
• System sensing. Will recognize the presence of the coded device within a specific area.
  • Transponders: A transponder device contains a radio receiver and transmitter, a storage place for the access code, control logic, and a battery.
  • Passive devices: The card does not have any power source of its own. A passive device only uses the power from the reader to detect the presence of the card.
  • Field-powered devices. The card and reader contain a transmitter and active electronics.

External Boundary Protection Mechanism

Fencing. Fences work as “first line of defense” mechanisms.

• 3-4 feet. Deter casual trespassers
• 6-7 feet. Considered too high to climb easy
• 8 feet with 3 strands of barbed wire. Deter intruders.
• PIDAS Fencing. Perimeter Intrusion Detection and Assessment System (PIDAS) is a type of fencing that has sensors on the wire mesh and at the base of the fence. It is used to detect if someone attempts to cut or climb the fence. It has a passive cable vibration sensor that sets off an alarm if an intrusion is detected. PIDAS is very sensitive and can cause many false alarms.

Gates. There are basically four distinct types of classification when it comes to gates:

• Class I Residential usage.
• Class II Commercial usage, where general public access is expected; examples include a public parking lot entrance, a gated community, or a self storage facility.
• Class III Industrial usage, where limited access is expected; an example is a warehouse property entrance that is not intended to serve the general public.
• Class IV Restricted access; this includes a prison entrance that is monitored either in person or via closed circuitry.

Lighting

Should be used to discourage intruders and provide safety for personnel, entrances, parking areas and critical sections. All critical areas should be illuminated 8 feet high and 2 feet out. Be mindful of glare protection for the security guards.

• Redundant or backup lights should be available in case of power failures or emergencies. Special care must be given to understand what type of lighting is needed in different parts of the facility in these types of situations. This lighting may run on generators or battery packs.
• Responsive area illumination takes place when an IDS detects suspicious activities and turns on the lights within a specific area.

Surveillance Devices

Three main categories:

• Patrol Force and Guards. They have the ability to assess the situation and make determinations.
• Dogs. These are loyal, reliable and have a sense of smell and hearing.
• Visual Recording Devices. These include cameras and CCTV etc. These may be remotely monitored in a control room and may be used as recorded evidence.

IDS Types

• Proximity Detection System / Capacitance detector. These emit a measurable magnetic field while in use. The detector monitors emitted electrical field and an alarm sounds if the field is disrupted.
• Photoelectric or Photometric System. Detects the change in the level of light within an area.
• Wave Patterns. Generates a wave pattern that is sent over an area and reflected back to the receiver.
• Passive Infrared System. Detects through identifying the changes of heat waves with in an area it is configured to protect.
• Acoustical-Seismic Detection System. It is sensitive to sounds and vibrations. It detects the changes in the noise level of an area it is placed in.

IDS Characteristics

• Expensive and requires human intervention to respond to the alarms
• Redundant power supply and emergency backup power are necessary
• Can be linked to a centralized security system
• Should have a fail-safe configuration, which means to default to “activated”
• Should detect, and be resistant to any tampering

Alarms

• Auxiliary station alarms automatically cause an alarm originating in a data center to be transmitted over the local municipal fire or police alarm circuits for relaying to both the local police/fire station and the appropriate headquarters.
• Central station alarms are operated by private security organizations.
• Proprietary alarms are similar to central stations alarms except that monitoring is performed directly on the protected property.
• Remote station alarm is a direct connection between the signal-initiating device at the protected property and the signal-receiving device located at a remote station, such as the firehouse. A remote system differs from an auxiliary system in that it does not use the municipal fire of police alarm circuits.

Considerations for CCTV Selection

• Purpose of CCTV Detect, assess, and/or identify intruders
• Type of environment the CCTV camera will work in Internal or external areas
• Field of view that is required Large or small area that needs to be monitored. If the field of view needs to be changed (wide to narrow), the lens must be changed.
• Amount of illumination of the environment Lit areas, unlit areas, areas affected by sunlight
• Integration with other security controls Guards, IDSs, alarm systems