Security and the Wall

Methods of Security Seven types of physical barriers designed to thwart a potential threat are: (1) perimeter security measures, (2) physical barriers (natural or structural), (3) fencing (chain link, barbed wire, top guard), (4) gates, (5) protective lighting, (6) doors, and (7) windows (U.S. Geological Survey Manual, 2018). Of these, I feel that the most important is to have perimeter security measures.

Perimeter security measures can include virtually anything that secures a perimeter and can vary in complexity and comprehensiveness—from something as simple as a wall around one’s home to a missile defense shield that protects one’s city or state. Perimeter security measures prevent a physical assault or intrusion from occurring at the front lines. It is the first and in some cases the last line of defense. Perimeter security also serves as a deterrent as well.

One looking to gain entry will not be able to see over a wall in most cases and thus will not know what awaits him on the other side. Scaling a wall can put in a position too from which it is impossible to get out of quickly. Likewise, if a wall has been erected, it is likely that there are perimeter sensors in place: anyone who takes the time to put up perimeter protection is not likely to simply leave it at that.

Other lines of defense are likely to exist: the perimeter security indicates as much. The layer of protection that I feel is least important is protective lighting. While protective lighting can make one feel safe, it does not actually prevent one from gaining access to property or from advancing on property.

Lighting my serve as an alarm of sorts if one is paying attention, but unless some other system of alarm is in place, it is not a very viable layer of protection and really only gives a false sense of security to the individual who uses it. Plus, protecting lighting is only useful for that portion of the day in which the sun is down. When the sun is up, it literally serves no purpose.

As Fennelly (2017) notes, protective lighting is helpful but it really should be supported by surveillance systems, as these actually help to identify an intruder, capture the intruder on film, and set off an alarm that can alert security personnel if the threat is identified as real. Fennelly (2017) points out that “the job of security now must change to be more proactive” (p.

19) and this is for the precise reason that passive security systems (such as lighting) are simply not enough to withstand an intrusion or a threat to one’s property. More active defenses are needed: alarms, protective dogs, for example, perimeter defense systems—all of these are examples of how to use physical security to better protect one’s environment.

Lighting is something that might have made people feel secure in the past, but it has little deterrent value to today’s criminals and intruders, who are much more brazen and audacious and ready to charge. In order to withstand an assault and to protect one’s environment, a perimeter defense is required and it should be linked with an alarm system, backed by interior protection, such as guard dogs, or guards who.