Principles of physical security

Law Enforcement - Physical Security

PRINCIPLES of PHYSICAL SECURITY

Building Security and Access Control Systems:

Building security is, fundamentally, a matter of securing ingress and egress points and controlling access to secure areas (Larsen 2007). To a large extent, digital access controls provide a means of efficiently tailoring relative degrees of physical access to different areas within buildings. Identification cards can be programmed so as to allow the minimum access necessary based on individual security clearance and job function.

While physical barriers and electronic data bases and card reader systems are essential to the effective implementation of building security, they are merely the means through which relative physical access is regulated. In that regard, even the best designed security system is no more effective than the ability and commitment of management to implement appropriate training, regulations, and enforcement of procedures through which building security is manifested (Larson 2007).

Grounds and Perimeter Security:

In principle, grounds and perimeter security consist of the same conceptual elements as building security, except in more dimensions and, generally, encompassing a larger area (McGee 2006). In practice, ground security often emphasizes the seamless integration of multiple human resource components in the case of private industry and multiple security agencies in the case of government facilities and properties. In that regard, reliable communications and clearly delineated areas of individual responsibility are absolutely necessary to guarantee the optimal capacity of any given security team to respond to potential security threats without compromising the relative security of other areas in the process (Larsen 2007).

This is particularly relevant in the age of modern terrorism by virtue of tactics designed to undermine threat response efficiency at targeted areas through diversions whose purpose is to exploit vulnerabilities in multiple areas. Specifically, perimeter security requires protocols for continuous monitoring of the entire perimeter, especially in conjunction with responding to potential breaches in any given sector (McGee 2006). Grounds and perimeter security also requires scenario-based training in conjunction with non-security-related emergency procedures. Specifically, periodic emergency drills involving building tenants and personnel may present a vulnerability where grounds and perimeter security procedures are not equipped to accommodate larger than normal volumes of foot traffic, such as typically associated with fire drills.

Optimal grounds and perimeter security protocols must include procedures for accommodating the increased traffic necessitated by non-security-related emergency drills without compromising general grounds and perimeter security considerations. For the same reason, information detailing emergency drill schedules must be protected from unauthorized access or unnecessary dissemination in advance (Larson 2007).

Technological Advances: