Business Security Information

In my last article, I wrote about the importance of padlocks and gates.   I also mentioned that chain link fences do not really provide good security for a storage yard or lot.  In most situations, metal fence type barriers (such as in the pictures) provide better security than chain link fences.  The pictures show a good security solution for protecting huge equipment tires but would provide no real security if you were trying to protect smaller stored items or against someone trying to steal parts from your equipment or vehicles.  Always choose a security solution that will fit your needs and provide adequate security for what you are trying to protect.

When trying to protect or secure a lot or other area, most businesses fence in the area and secure any opening to the lot with some type of gate. The fencing is usually of the chain link type which does not provide good perimeter security; however, that is not the focus of this article. Right now, I want to focus on how the gate is secured during business hours. Since open gates are necessary for the smooth functioning of the business, I am referring to padlocks used to secure the gate during non-business hours being left open during business hours. If you look at the pictures included in this article, you will see examples of what I mean. In each picture, regardless of whether it is a chain link gate or a swing arm gate, an open padlock is hanging on the gate.

This week I stopped by what use to be an auto dealership in a city near where I live and saw some examples of good and bad security that I thought I would share with you in this post.  While there, I took some pictures to illustrate what I saw.  If you look closely at these pictures, you will see that the business installed a metal barrier which  prevents vehicles or other equipment from easily being taken from the lot.  It is a simple design of steel piping that is secured in the ground with the openings to the lot being protected by a sliding gate made from the same material.  The steel posts in the ground are close enough that even if the top steel piping was removed, it would not allow a vehicle to be driven between the steel pipes.  Not placing posts close enough together is a major problem in most dealership lots I have evaluated.  The pictures show a good example of how to do it right without making the barrier an eyesore.  In addition, the business secured the steel piping in the ground with concrete and even formed a raised concrete lip, making it difficult to remove individual steel piping from the ground even with the right type of heavy equipment.  Please note:  this type of lot protection is good when you are trying to prevent theft of vehicles or equipment, but additional security is required if you are trying to protect against parts theft.

It seems like there are numerous websites on the Internet covering the main aspects of computer security but very few on physical security for a typical business.  On this website I try to cover all types of security on this website, but today I want to focus on physical security.

Physical security is mainly related to the protection of people, buildings, equipment and other physical or tangible assets.  Physical security is often overlooked in this high-tech business world where protecting digital assets of a business is emphasized. Adequately protecting digital assets, though, depends on implementing physical security as well.

When I first began my career in security, perimeter protection was the hot topic.  Physical security usually involved security fencing, razor wire, alarm sensors and, depending on what you were protecting, maybe even mobile patrols.  For computer security, this involved protecting the main entry point to your network with firewalls, intrusion detection and other software or hardware devices.  Today, with so many different entry points as well as interconnected networks, there is no set perimeter to protect.  There are exceptions to this, but think about VPN connections, extranet connections, supplier networks and others that you connect with or you allow to connect to your network.  Some networks have a variety of third party vendors providing or maintaining portions of the business network. Depending on the security setup of other networks that connect to you, your perimeter may include other entry points you really don’t know about or have control of.

If you do not have a background in security, you might not have heard the term “bollards” or you may have heard the word used and not understood what it meant.  Well, the word “bollard” usually refers to a 4-inch or greater diameter pipe which is usually filled with concrete and is embedded or secured into a concrete base.  Most everyone reading this article has seen a bollard if they have ever been to a Best Buy or other big retail store because they are located at the main entrance.  Refer to the pictures in this article for examples of different types of bollards.