Policies and Resources

Sustainable Facilities

Facilities are full of heavy machinery and thousands of moving parts. Because of this fact, personnel safety is a top priority. The facilities should include an integrated security system to enhance personnel safety measures. When plans are established, productivity can stay at a maximum level at all times. The security procedures for such facilities will assist to guarantee productivity.

Prioritise

One of the first steps in configuring the ideal facility security plan is to assess the facility or operational zone. Everything from the machines to equipment to the individuals and other assets should be drawn up. Knowing what needs to be protected and/or monitored is an easy starting point. Next, prioritise the most vital access. If something requires twice as much security as something else, that needs to be noted. Finally, think of who has access to firm assets or security devices, and how that can access can be checked.

Security Measures

Access Control

Access Control allows facilities to control who has access to certain areas of their facility. It can also track who is coming and going and when. Access control is a necessary component of maximising a physical security system and could be considered the first line of defence in general safety and organisation of an industrial infrastructure. Locks, key cards, and device authentication and authorisation are all good options to secure a facility. There are plenty of access control brands available, all of which have their own special features and advantages that should be compared before choosing one final solution.

Video Surveillance

Video cameras will enable facilities to better monitor their entire facility. Most industrial plants have multiple entrances, so an investment in security cameras is a good way to boost a facility. Besides being used to monitor perimeters, cameras can also be placed inside machines to identify and solve issues.

Layers

It takes more than one product, technology, or methodology to secure a system. A holistic approach should be applied when protecting assets. Multiple layers of defence should be used (physical, procedural, digital) so as to address any type of concerns. When layering, it is important to keep in mind the idea of an integrated approach to security to assist the facilities adapt quickly to potential emergencies.

Device Profiling

Some personnel can have their own tablets, phones, and mobile devices on them when they come to the facility. Device and identity profile investments can assist regulate and keep tabs on all of these devices. A facility can monitor, authenticate, and regulate all operators or applications that connect to the system.

Security Systems

The three vital functions of an effective security system are: detect, interval, respond. With a comprehensive security solution, overall asset protection increases. Personnel should be reminded of the security strategy on a yearly basis. Everyone should be trained on all policies and procedures immediately upon hiring and regularly through their tenure.

Contingency Plan

The first step in securing a facility is to assess risk. Contingency planning is when stakeholders plan for all of the possible unknowns that could undesirably affect the sphere. With a contingency plan in place, facilities have a greater chance of reacting smoothly to an undesirable situation. To make this plan, risk should be assessed in relation to the facility. Both the potential effect and the likeability of a potential event should be considered.

Drawing up a rigid response time to potential risk will ensure that no step is overlooked. Delegating responsibilities in advance to personnel will make response processes smoother. When brainstorming an emergency plan, keep simplicity in mind. Personnel and stakeholders will comprehend simple processes best in undesirable events.

Preparation

Personnel should always be aware of plans in terms of securing the buildings. This will improve reaction time, and assist in making the process smoother. It is also important to have security policies and procedures listed somewhere. These policies should contain who is allowed to access what, define acceptable asset application, and detail an incident response plan that includes procedures to restore any vital production that can be affected by a security concern. Additionally, assigning designated personnel to fix security systems will assist in emergency situations.

Security risk materialise on a daily basis. Deciding how to respond to potential risk in advance allows for quick decision making. Training personnel also allows stakeholders to feel more relaxed in a security concern. Having gone through what should be done, personnel with training have a better chance of staying calm and collected.

Integrated approach

Facilities likely have intervention systems, perimeter security, access control, and fire alarm systems. So as to make these facility security procedures maximise the quality of the security system, there should be an integrated approach. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is through an integrated security application platform. All of the sensors from the individual security measures would connect to this larger security platform in a control room. Doing so allows for quicker correlation among alerts which should lead to faster response times, more efficient monitoring, and increased awareness.