A perimeter is not a line; it is a series of layers. The principle of defence in depth holds that no single barrier is enough, and that security comes from combining detection, delay and response so that a threat defeating one layer meets another, and buys defenders the time they need.
The layers at work
- Detection: knowing something is there, as early as possible
- Assessment: understanding what it is and whether it is a threat
- Delay: physical measures that slow an intruder down
- Response: getting the right people to the right place in time
Detection buys time
The earlier a potential threat is detected and correctly assessed, the more time responders have. That is why sensing at and beyond the perimeter, combined with reliable assessment to avoid false alarms, is the foundation the other layers build on.
Integration ties it together
Layers only work as a system when they communicate. Detection must bring up assessment, which must inform response, all through a shared picture in the control room. Designing these layers to work as one is the integrator's core task.
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