Feature Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Read more online at www.securitymattersmagazine.com
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Due to COVID-19, the client had
reduced staffing levels to the extent that
the Data Centre facility itself was
operating almost on an autonomous
basis. With high value and highly
targeted assets, any outage caused by
theft would have serious financial and
reputational implications. That being so,
the end user required a perimeter
intrusion detection system that would
provide real-time and, importantly,
accurate threat alerts with a focus
on the whole-life costs.
The site is located in a
busy location with a
high traffic roadway
running alongside
it. Above all else,
the client wanted
to ensure that the
security team on
site wasn’t going to
be troubled by
numerous false alarms.
The range of perimeter
intrusion detection systems
installed uses fibre optic cable as the
sensor. This cable has a typical lifespan
of 30-plus years and is maintenance-free.
It’s attached directly to the fabric of
the fence and walls at the site so there
was minimal requirement for any civils
or infrastructure costs. This method of
installation is very quick and means that
the system is up-and-running and
detecting threats in a fraction of the
time that would be the case with
alternative solutions. Further, any other
technologies that might have been
deployed would still have required
trenches to be dug and power cables to
be laid for the security installation.
Location accuracy
Fibre optic sensing also provides
exemplary location accuracy,
identifying the point of
intrusion to a few
metres. This
solution ensures a
high probability
of detection with
few nuisance
alarms, giving
high confidence
to the operators
and reducing the
need for regular
patrols. When
comparing technologies, the
client quickly identified a
substantial whole-life cost saving over a
ten-year period by deploying a fibre
optic-based perimeter intrusion
detection system at the site.
The system was fully integrated into a
comprehensive CCTV system and, on
alarm, a graphical user interface clearly
highlights the exact location of any
security event together with the relevant
camera images. This all occurs
automatically without end user
intervention. All security events can also
be viewed remotely by the outsourced
security team members who are then
able to respond promptly.
This is just one example of how fibre
optic perimeter intrusion detection
systems are deployed worldwide to
mitigate threats to perimeters, while at
the same time actively reducing the
potential disruption caused by personnel
shortages and travel restrictions.
Ultimately, the specification and
selection of any perimeter intrusion
detection system depends upon a
number of factors relating to the
operational requirement and local
circumstances: the landscape and
topographical features, climatic
conditions, local regulations, the local
environment and current/planned
infrastructure, whether or not there’s a
physical barrier and what it consists of,
the duration of the required deployment
and, as stated, integration with other
types of equipment or systems, response
force arrangements and the personnel
members who are employed on site.
In an uncertain world where we now
face ever-evolving threats, developing a
robust, reliable and more self-sufficient
security infrastructure simply has to
become the highest of priorities for our
industry. We cannot predict the future,
of course. That’s impossible, but what we
most certainly can do is take steps
towards better managing the risks to
protect businesses, their assets and, most
importantly of all, their people.
Mark Horton is Vice-President of
Bandweaver (www.bandweaver.com)
In an uncertain world where we now face ever-evolving
threats, developing a robust, reliable
and more self-sufficient security infrastructure
simply has to become the highest of priorities
for our industry
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