Anyone who grew up in a climate where ‘winter’ means cold, dark, dangerous weather, where being caught unprepared can mean serious discomfort or even serious threat to life and health, probably heard this advice from their parents.
It’s good advice. And not just for coping with the threatening, cold, wet darkness of winter weather.
How often do we hear of the current “political climate,” “business climate,” “economic climate” or other complex, varying relationships described in terms usually associated with the weather?
“Winter” truly comes in many forms.
A layered defense has been proven across the world and across the centuries to be the best way of protecting anything vital or valuable.
The security plan for your business should take account of this age-old, proven advice.
In security planning, ‘dressing in layers’ is done in both the physical systems sense, and the planning sense.
‘Planning in layers’ means:
Making a realistic assessment of the threats to your operation and the losses each could pose.
Creating a comprehensive strategy which can prevent or mitigate those losses economically, and without undue disruption to the things being protected.
Having a flexible plan for addressing unanticipated threats when they inevitably arise.
Having reliable resources available to enact those plans at need, both internal and external.
‘Building in layers’ applies to the physical and electronic systems used to implement that planning:
Deterrence – Striking the fine line between preventing violations and discouraging threats & bad actors without over-burdening operational efficiency or impacting the welcoming image vital to so many businesses.
Detection – Sensing threats or potential bad acts accurately and reliably and with a bare minimum of false detections often requires multiple layers and types of sensors, and the choice is greatly dictated by who will be receiving those detection messages, and how.
Response – Every bit as important as detecting a bad act, is the decision of how that act is responded to and by whom. This is seldom a “one size fits all” solution and having a range of options to choose from allows tailoring the response to the specific issue.
Evidence – Having a clear, impartial, and reliable record of any impactful event, the events leading up to it (the all-important ‘context’), and the responses made to that event, are all crucial to mitigating the harm an event can cause.
Reliability – Being able to depend on all the aspects of a security plan to operate without fail under adverse conditions is crucial.
NAVCO’s experienced, knowledgeable sales and design staff, skilled and reliable installation and service teams, and our Best of Breed supplier partners, can help you forge your security plan into a layered, flexible reality you can rely on when winter comes.
Glen Powell – Glen Powell is currently NAVCO’s Director of Technology and System Design.
Glen’s been at NAVCO since January of 1998, in a variety of technology management and leadership roles including Access Control Engineering Manager and National Design Engineer.
Glen began working in the Physical Security industry in October of 1986, first as an Applications Engineer for Cardkey Systems, then as Corporate Training Manager, and later served as Manager of Corporate Training for Infographic Systems.
Prior to entering the industry, Glen was a Senior Instructor, specializing in ComSec systems maintenance at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA.
