Prioritizing security and safety from the curb to the core of a building is essential for organizations looking to proactively address potential threats while fostering a culture of protection and resilience. By consistently evaluating and updating barriers and control measures, companies mitigate risks and enjoy the benefits of enhanced efficiency, productivity, and peace of mind. Several examples of physical security solutions, both outside and inside the facility, demonstrate how this comprehensive approach can set the foundation for a thriving security environment.
At the most basic level, there’s a measure of transparency companies need to have when considering security measures. While getting fixated on promising new technology is easy, it’s imperative to consider the entire ecosystem and how that solution will fit into the sequence of operations. Regarding vehicle barriers, companies should first identify the highest security threat level and the specific vulnerabilities to the building and employees. It’s essential to set perimeters at a standoff distance far enough away from buildings, which can be accomplished through a variety of solutions like crash-rated gates, barrier arms, wedges, and bollards.
Once a vehicle has passed the first barrier, implementing redundant measures may or may not become necessary. It can be tempting to add them, but companies should equally consider what a typical day’s traffic looks like. If the solutions hinder vehicles from entering a facility during busier times at the beginning or end of a typical day, that technology can become counter-productive and costly. Also, unnecessary barriers can be restrictive when there’s a medical emergency within the facility; if an ambulance can’t reach the front doors within minutes of being notified, the result could be disastrous.
Ultimately, it’s not enough to choose a vehicle barrier solution based on its ability to stop a vehicle from entering; it has to integrate into everyday operations seamlessly. A similar mindset can apply to additional security solutions, like intelligent key cabinets, which, like vehicle barriers, can help improve the safety and security of widely used assets in high-traffic areas. By strategically implementing a cabinet or a gate, companies can gain great insight into who has access, where, and when.
As noted, how those solutions communicate with the overall security system is paramount, which grows in complexity when multiple assets, access points, and buildings exist. Modern vehicle barriers (and key cabinets, for that matter), can be monitored through a central control center, which gives administrators a comprehensive view of total operations. Access can be granted or revoked instantaneously from a remote location, which can be invaluable for employees exiting the company.
Many of the violent attacks that occur within a company’s facility involve a disgruntled former employee, so any solution that can immediately restrict access to ensure that doesn’t happen can prove to be lifesaving. A company using a standard access credential like a badge, or a fob can apply as far out as an outer perimeter gate or as intimate as a master key cabinet from within the facility when the security solution integrates from curb to core, a cohesive and reinforced level of protection against potential security threats immediately possible.
Once a solution has been selected and installed, that doesn’t represent the end of the evaluation process; it represents the beginning. Companies should institute a maintenance routine to ensure those solutions are always functioning correctly and check how security operations are impacted because of it. Are there different applications in other organization sectors that could benefit from this type of technology? Some of the most successful security systems are in organizations where solutions have been tested at one location, proven their worth, and implemented system wide. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for every organization, which further underscores the need for transparency in recognizing a weakness and taking the appropriate steps to correct it.
In addition to learning through introspection, companies should also learn from key case studies. Two seminal incidents highlight the devastating result of failing to install adequate protective measures regarding vehicle barriers. The Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 and the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996, which occurred just 14 months apart, remain powerful reminders of the need for perimeter security and continue to serve as key references when evaluating an appropriate standoff distance from a facility and its access points. Subsequent legislation from those events led to compliance and policy measures for specific buildings, a trend that continues today in various industry verticals and regarding numerous security solutions.
Technology continues to advance because of ever-evolving threats. Companies aware of the threats can better stay in tune with the latest advancements. By consistently reflecting on what is and isn’t working internally, organizations can ideally position themselves to select, implement, monitor, and optimize advanced security solutions, like vehicle barriers and key management, to protect their most important assets and people while promoting efficiency and safety as critical elements of their company culture.
