Mission Critical

Mar 1, 2007 12:00 PM

Security at military and high profile government facilities has, for many years, been described as mission-critical. Requirements include redundant command-and-control, encrypted communications, perimeter intrusion detection; advanced sensor technologies, integrated video assessment and access control have defined the space.

As the security industry evolves, threats are changing the needs for security technology and capabilities. A result is that government institutions are not the only ones using the most advanced security technology. Many corporate security directors ask: “Isn't what I do critical to the mission of my organization?”

In the post-9/11 world, industries such as gaming, banking, airports, pharmaceuticals, energy and education are installing expanded security measures on a par with the requirement of the government and military.

“The characteristics of a mission-critical security system can be defined by the cost of an incident, the organization's mission and the specific requirements imposed by regulations,” says John Waldron, marketing manager for Honeywell Vindicator Security Solutions, Austin, Texas. “The cost of an incident is often not discussed, but it is very real. What might it cost a financial institution if a laptop containing clients' personal and financial information is stolen? How would the airline industry be affected by the lock-down of a terminal in Chicago or New York? How much gaming revenue would be lost if not for real-time video surveillance? Issues such as these are leading security professionals to install appropriate solutions to protect mission integrity and operational continuity.”

Waldron lists several examples:

• Nevada and other states have stringent security requirements for gaming. Some require operators to record multiple video sources on active games in real-time, and downtime for surveillance often means downtime for the game. For this reason, high-end systems are deployed often in redundant or fail-over configurations to ensure maximum coverage.

• Many utility facilities regulated by the National Electric Reliability Council (NERC) face strict regulations. Having information available to make timely and informed decisions is critical to maintaining energy production and supply for millions. One provider, Aquila Energy, is investing in new security technology for its more than 50 sites and will soon operate a central station for monitoring and managing security, fire, HVAC and other systems.

• Financial institutions pride themselves on the swiftness and integrity of the transactions they handle. Reacting quickly to information can determine competitiveness in an aggressive market. Misplaced personal or financial information, delayed action or sloppy physical security increases risk that can mount into millions of dollars.

• For many years, airports have used electronic access control technology to restrict facility access. Some, such as the Houston Airport System, are upgrading and expanding those solutions to include video surveillance and perimeter intrusion detection. While the mission of the airport has not changed, its willingness to tolerate risks has.

• The systems put in place by these industries exceed capabilities of standards that were the pre-Sept. 11 norm. These additional capabilities focus on providing better and more accurate information about threats, and to ensure that operations are interrupted only in the event of a real breach of security. These “mission-critical” operations put security squarely near the top of the organization's agenda.

“Mission critical” may never have a universally accepted definition, but each security director must determine how threats will affect his organization and what level of security is critical to its mission.

TIME TO UPGRADE?

When deciding whether to upgrade to a “mission-critical” solution, ask yourself these questions:

• What will a security incident cost my organization?

• What new regulations does my industry face?

• How can I lower the costs of nuisance alarms?

• How are security threats evolving?

• How has technology evolved to deal with these threats?

SOURCE: HONEYWELL (HONEYWELLINTEGRATED.COM)

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