Six Challenges in Securing Large Perimeters

An article posted on securitymagazine.com summarized six challenges associated with securing the perimeters of large facilities. In this article, we examine these challenges in greater depth and look at how Senstar provides best-in-class solutions that, as securitymagazine.com puts it, serve as part of a holistic approach that integrates technology, personnel and processes to ensure a robust and effective security strategy.

Challenge 1: “Managing and monitoring a vast and complex perimeter can be overwhelming. Coordinating security measures across large areas requires comprehensive planning and robust resources.”

Scale and Complexity

A properly designed perimeter security solution acts as a force multiplier, freeing up human resources instead of consuming them. To ensure the overall physical protection system (PPS) meets the facility’s requirements, system designers and integrators need to select security technology that provides facility operators with the critical information they need to maintain situational awareness: 

• Senstar offers security solutions designed to protect the perimeters of very large facilities, including petrochemical refineries, power generation facilities, airports, space launch facilities, military bases, and correctional facilities.
• To manage complexity, Senstar sensors share a common communications framework and report precise intrusion information to centralized security operations centers. A comprehensive portfolio includes fully integrated solutions for fences, walls, entrance gates, and access control devices.
• When Senstar sensors are combined with the Senstar Symphony Common Operating Platform, the intrusion locations are graphically displayed on facility maps and can be used to automatically call up specific video surveillance feeds or trigger specific actions. A unified interface simplifies training requirements and empowers operators with the tools they need to respond to a range of threats.

Challenge 2: “Assigning adequate personnel and technology resources to cover an extensive perimeter can be resource intensive. Effective surveillance, patrols and response mechanisms must be established to deter and/or address potential security breaches promptly.”

Resource Allocation

Perimeter intrusion detection technology frees up personnel by letting them do what they do best – providing human insight to unfolding situations and responding to threats. Intrusion detection alarms generated by comprehensive, defense-in-depth solutions direct operator attention to critical events and assist in helping them to coordinate the deployment of appropriate countermeasures and response forces:

• Instead of requiring multiple people to passively observe screens for suspicious events (a function that research confirms is challenging for humans), individual operators can monitor larger areas, freeing up human resources for other activities.
• To reduce operator distractions, Senstar sensors are designed to minimize nuisance alarms. Field-tested and proven, our sensors include environmental disaggregation as well as AI-based sensor fusion.
• Maintenance staff can use data obtained from sensors to quickly locate damaged or loose fence fabric, reducing the frequency and time requirements of physical inspections.

Challenge 3: “Achieving consistent surveillance coverage across every inch of an expansive perimeter can be difficult. Blind spots may emerge due to terrain, equipment, lighting, structures or other obstacles, offering potential entry points for intruders.”

Limited surveillance coverage

Vulnerabilities like blind spots or line-of-sight (LOS) issues are a challenge for facilities of all sizes but especially large ones. Physical realities may make it unfeasible or cost-prohibitive for complete, high-quality surveillance coverage. Similar concerns apply to LOS sensors like ground-based radar or LIDAR. Fortunately, for this specific deployment challenge, Senstar fence-mounted and buried perimeter intrusion detection sensors reveal one of their major strengths: detection coverage of the entire facility, with no coverage gaps that an intruder can exploit to get inside undetected.

Senstar also offers solutions that help to improve the deployment and capabilities of the surveillance cameras themselves:

• Perimeter lighting: The Senstar LM100 provides a 2-in-1 perimeter illumination and intrusion detection solution. Low-power, uniform fence line illumination with a high color rending index (CRI) value improves the assessment capabilities of surveillance cameras, ensuring high quality nighttime visibility without hotspots.
• Secure networking: When fiber sensors are deployed along the perimeter, unused fibers may be repurposed for use by network cameras, avoiding the need to run additional networking cables and thereby reducing overall installation costs while maintaining a higher level of security over that of copper-based Ethernet cabling.

Challenge 4: “Maintaining real-time monitoring capabilities across a large site can be technologically challenging. Delays in identifying and responding to security threats could exacerbate the impact of a breach or future threats.”

Real-time monitoring and response

Senstar technologies are designed to provide immediate, accurate, and precise information on security threats:

• Immediately locate intrusions to within a few meters or feet and graphically display results to local or remote security operation centers.
• Manage video from all major camera manufacturers via ONVIF standards.
• Provide guard stations with centrally managed video feeds via compact, no-hassle network video appliances.
• Empower response forces with real-time data on their mobile phones, including live camera feeds and active alarms.
• Track person and vehicle activity inside and outside the perimeter with outdoor-optimized video analytics.

Challenge 5: “Implementing and maintaining a comprehensive perimeter security system, including personnel, equipment and technology upgrades can often be costly.”

Cost

A major challenge associated with securing large facilities is a lack of power and networking infrastructure along the perimeter, especially at remote locations located away from main buildings or daily activity. Any solution that requires the installation of new power and networking cabling will quickly drive up costs. In addition to the upfront cost, maintaining in-field equipment may increase operating costs if it is not designed and tested for long-term deployment in extreme environmental conditions.

Senstar intrusion detection sensors are designed from the outset to reduce both installation and operating costs. Our products are rigorously tested across their entire service life at our outdoor test facility (S.I.T.E.) where they experience extreme temperatures and all-weather conditions.

Depending on requirements, Senstar offer several cost-effective solutions:

• FiberPatrol: Suitable for both fence and buried applications, this fiber optic sensor requires no active in-field components. Its fiber optic cables have a lifespan of 20+ years and a single unit can cover perimeters up to 80 km (49.7 mi) in length. In addition, its unused fibers can be repurposed to provide networking for other perimeter equipment such as surveillance cameras.
• FlexZone: A highly cost-effective intrusion detection solution for fences, FlexZone reduces infield infrastructure requirements by carrying networking and power over its sensor cables. Each processor covers a distance of up to 600 m (1,968 ft) and up to 5 processors can share a single low-voltage power supply.
• OmniTrax: A covert, buried solution, OmniTrax reduces infield infrastructure requirements by carrying networking and power over its sensor cable. Each processor covers a distance of up to 800 m (1/2 mi) per sensor processor and up to 3 processors can share a single low-voltage power supply.

Challenge 6: “Striking the right balance between a secure perimeter and the need for convenient access for authorized personnel, visitors and deliveries requires careful management and can be especially challenging at larger sites where the volume is heavy.”

Balancing security and access

Ensuring daily operations remain unhindered while maintaining security is a critical requirement for any security program. When security becomes overly burdensome or complex, the likelihood of processes and rules being ignored or bent may increase. Fortunately, this risk can be minimized via careful consideration of processes combined with technology solutions:

• Facilities can be divided into secure/unsecure areas, both geographically and schedule-wise, with any non-authorized activity notifying security personnel.
• Senstar intrusion detection sensors with ranging capabilities allow for authorized activity at high-volume areas like gates while maintaining 24/7 protection at adjacent segments or zones.
• Monitor employee access via integration electronic access control (EAC).
• Access for authorized personnel can be streamlined via face recognition and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) video analytics. In addition to speeding up access, the data can be used to as part of logistics risk management and automation systems.

For More Information

Senstar has been securing critical infrastructure and facilities for over 40 years. The depth and breadth of our institutional knowledge, reflected in our comprehensive portfolio and innovative technologies, enables us to offer solutions that solve the security challenges faced at large facilities.  For information on our Senstar can help secure your facility, contact your local representative.