Perimeter detection is usually the first line of defense for end user organizations. Designing an effective perimeter protection plan that takes various factors into consideration, for example the size of perimeters, the climatic patterns of the area as well as the technology used, is therefore important.
Perimeter detection is usually the first line of defense for end user organizations, especially critical facilities such as airports, refineries and military bases. Designing an effective perimeter protection plan that takes various factors into consideration, for example the size of perimeters, the climatic patterns of the area as well as the technology used, is therefore important.
That was the points raised by
Axis Communications in its recent
blog post: “Six questions you may have forgotten to ask when developing your perimeter protection plan.”
“It takes more to protect a perimeter than simply building a tall fence topped with barbed wire. A well-secured perimeter contains myriad layers of defenses reinforced with robust security solutions,” Axis said. “Yet … some are still struggling to develop and implement a comprehensive perimeter protection plan.”
To help integrators and users to design a plan that best suits their perimeter protection needs, Axis posed six questions that they should ask when developing such a plan. The points are summarized as follows.
How can I define perimeter?
According to Axis, one of the first things one should consider is the perimeter’s size, and usually the longer the perimeters the more fencing and security solutions are needed. As examining every square inch of space along the perimeters can be difficult, Axis suggests to at least consider the following:
- Identify all entrance and exit points
- Examine the physical perimeter
- Consider the effects of a breach
Is my technology up to date?
According to Axis, keeping technologies up to date is important due to several reasons; one is for product efficiency. This is especially true at a time when analytics are more and more run on edge devices. “This can be beneficial in a number of ways. Moving processing to the edge means the central server’s processing power of a server appliance can be leveraged for other activities, possibly reducing hardware costs or quantity to accomplish the same task,” the article said.
Will climate or environmental conditions affect my detection?
As some places may be subject to extreme conditions, designing a perimeter protection plan must take certain environmental factors into consideration including the following, according to Axis:
- Humidity: If condensation forms inside a camera lens, it can both blur images and erode electronics.
- Temperature: Frigid temperatures freeze, erode and prevent parts from functioning properly.
- Mounting: Not every surface is the same. By considering mounting prior to installation, you can better protect cameras from harsh environmental conditions and extreme temperature shifts.
Who receives the alert and how do they receive it?
According to Axis, to monitor perimeters at all times and in multiple locations, IP video monitoring technology with remote accessibility are often used. These solutions allow security personnel to survey perimeters whether they’re observing monitors, patrolling facilities or off-premise using mobile devices.
How can I determine what caused the alert?
False alarms can cost businesses hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Identifying what caused an alert or who the threat is, therefore, is made easier with the right perimeter protection solutions. “For example, thermal cameras with intelligent video analysis not only produce significantly fewer false alarms than optical cameras, they’re also less sensitive to severe environmental conditions, such as rain, snow and fog,” the company said. “Another idea is to use cameras equipped with 950nm infrared light because they illuminate dark scenes. While IR doesn’t produce natural colors, IR cameras with 950nm are great for covert situations because the light is invisible to the human eye. Finally, simply adding auxiliary lighting to scenes that are too dark can help better identify intruders, although this may increase overall perimeter security costs in the long run.”
What is my detection level?
According to Axis, a key concern for security personnel should be eliminating blind spots along perimeters. “For example, is it just as important to clearly detect a threat at 10 feet as it is at 1,000 feet? If the answer is ‘yes,’ look beyond a solution’s specification sheets and evaluate the whole situation,” it said.