How to implement effective physical security measures
Our archive contains more than 1,000 articles on security know-how, many relating to how to implement effective physical security measures. Here, we have gathered together some of our most popular articles on this topic.
Effective physical security measures are a critical part of your overall site security strategy. It is essential to take a well-researched and thorough approach, starting with the site audit and risk assessment, through to the specification and installation of your complete security solution. The measures you implement can begin with effective perimeter security, possibly including high security doors. Together these physical measures form part of the site access control and these can be further enhanced with electronic access control solutions. Surveillance using CCTV systems is generally seen as an essential component of physical security measures. Read our articles from security experts with a range of advice and ideas on physical security measures:
- Ten steps to successful perimeter security
- High security doors – do we know what we’re walking through?
- Best practice CCTV and CCTV and GDRP – are you compliant?
- Access Control brings global benefits
- Top Tips: for post and parcel delivery risk assessment
- Hardening physical security against cyber criminals
Ten steps to successful perimeter security
Your physical security strategy must include making sure your perimeter is as safe and secure as possible. Peter Jackson CEO, Jacksons Fencing provides ten key steps to installing successful perimeter security:
- Planning, planning, planning
- Assess the threat
- Maintain business as usual
- Assess what’s practical
- Get as much advice as possible
- Integrate with other security measures
- Specify an effective solution
- Use innovation to save time & money
- Maintain your security
- Future proof
Read the full article here: Ten steps to successful perimeter security
High security doors – do we know what we are walking through?
Master Locksmith Tom Jenkins of ATAJ Secure has spent 40 years securing doors and now holds training sessions on physical security standards. In his article here: High security doors – do we know what we are walking through? he provides some background on door security, why it’s needed and how it ends up in front of us, without most of us taking much notice. He writes: “Today, doors and associated locking hardware are required to comply with several regulations and standards. These include building regulations, such as Part B (Fire) and Part Q (Residential Security); British and European standards; and independent standards, such as those published by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). Manufacturers invest in testing and certification to these standards in order to provide assurance of the performance provided by their doors and locking hardware. Of particular note is Loss Prevention Standard LPS1175. This standard which was first published over 25 years ago, previously defined eight levels of security (SR1 to SR8). The latest edition (Issue 8) defines a matrix of options covering eight threat levels (A to H) and six levels of delay, ranging from 1 to 20 minutes.”
Read full article here: High security doors – do we know what we are walking through?
Best practice CCTV operations
Richard Jenkins, CEO of NSI signposts the standards to follow for the management and operation of CCTV in his article: Best practice CCTV operations. This includes British Standard Code of Practice BS 7958. Richard writes: “This standard provides a framework for defining the objectives for the use of a system as well as ensuring records of images are kept securely, with a clear policy regarding the release of information to statutory prosecuting bodies, including the police, and members of the public.”
Read the full article here: Best practice CCTV operations
GDPR & CCTV – are you compliant?
As well as the best practice outlined above, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect in May 2018. However, in his article: GDPR & CCTV – are you compliant? Andrew Crowne-Spencer of Clearway Services found that many organisations are not complying in relation to GDPR for CCTV systems. Check your compliance to ensure that you have:
- Appropriate signage with accurate information
- Carried out a GDPR risk assessment prior to CCTV deployment
- Checked that DVRs (digital video recorders) are not left unlocked or unsecured so anyone, not just designated security personnel, has access to footage?
- Ensured the lenses of CCTV cameras are not appropriately directed or they’re masked so that inappropriate footage is not recorded, and, if the data is shared with other parties, for example to monitor specific individuals, then innocent people are blurred out, something easily managed with the right software
- Ensured that CCTV monitors are not viewable by the public
- Trained staff to monitor the CCTV
- Passwords and usernames are not on default settings or noted next to the equipment
- Checked that if the images are to be shared with other organisations, eg the police, TfL, or other security service providers, you manage this appropriately to conform to Regulations
Read the full article here: GDPR & CCTV – are you compliant?
Access Control brings global benefits
Access control is the way in which we allow (or prevent) access to a place or other resource. There are two main types of AC – physical and electronic. In his article Access Control brings global benefits, Andy Rainforth of Grosvenor Technology explains further: “Physical access control uses locks, doors, barriers and other equipment to facilitate or deny entry. Electronic access control allows or prevents access to a building or other private area by using IT to facilitate selective access. We usually talk about access control as a system or solution, because today’s electronic AC does more than just guard an entry point – it commonly also allows for ongoing monitoring of personnel and their movements, and can be integrated with other third party security and building management systems.”
Read the full article here: Access Control brings global benefits
Top Tips: Post & Parcel Delivery Risk Assessment
Your security risk assessment and the resulting measures put in place will include how your organisation implements postroom security. This will include the physical location and security for delivery, equipment to consider and processes and procedures for staff to follow, taking into account the size and nature of your business.
The CPNI, in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI), have produced detailed guidance on mail screening and security: PAS 97:2015 Mail screening and security. In his article Postroom security: parcel delivery risk assessment Jason Wakefield, Todd Research provides nine key areas to consider for effective postroom security:
- Establish a delivery policy for post and packages
- Consider the location of your delivery room
- Put security in place for the loading bay / post room
- Have a single point of entry for all deliveries
- Train all staff dealing with post and parcels in suspect package recognition
- Consider implementing a hand sort – to identify the tell-tale signs that could make a package suspicious
- Consider the use of an effective x-ray machine for the scanning of parcels and letters
- Establish an action plan for dealing with a suspect package
- Review
Read the full article here: Postroom security: parcel delivery risk assessment,
Hardening physical security against cyber criminals
Cyber criminals will relentlessly look to exploit vulnerabilities in all technology, including physical security systems. How can organisations harden their physical security systems to protect them from cyber attacks? Paul Dodds from Genetec writes: “Physical security systems and devices, including CCTV cameras and access control systems, are smarter, more powerful and more connected than ever before. As part of both public and private networks, they are increasingly unified to facilitate their management, speed up communications, increase data sharing, and, most importantly, empower security professionals to keep people and organisations safe and secure.” He adds: “It makes sense to have a security strategy in place that protects against both physical and cyber threats.”
Read the full article here: Hardening physical security
