Security Tip of the Month: Preparing for the Ordinary Means Protection for the Extraordinary

• By Darren A. Nix
• Nov 09, 2009

When a security program is designed to prevent more common and unwanted activities, in many ways the program will also lessen the potential of more extraordinary events. Many of us understand the principle of layered security using a number of resources, such as:

• Perimeter protection (buffers, fencing, natural and man-made barriers)
• Lighting
• Signage
• Security Guards (presence)
• Security management systems
• Access control
• Video surveillance
• Intrusion detection systems
• Policies and procedures

The list could go on, but let me demonstrate the concept of the title. For example, consider the high probability of copper theft. Electrical utility providers are one of the most susceptible victims to this type of theft and preventing the metal's theft is one of their daily tasks. As the company develops prevention methods by using some of the tools listed above, they are essentially making it harder for a copper thief to breach their facility. It would also be increasingly more difficult for an individual who wanted to breach the facility to go undetected and to cause a more critical event.

This point is not meant to imply that if a company addresses all high probability and common events, they will be fully prepared to deal with the less common and more critical incidents. The resources that need to respond to more critical events are very different from those used in a less critical occurrence; however, as security is properly and effectively increased to prevent the more probable and, most likely, less critical incidents, they are ultimately increasing the ability to prevent the more extraordinary events.