The critical infrastructure definition is an industry or organization whose incapacitation would put the general population at significant risk. While all critical infrastructures must take measures to prevent security breaches that put the public at risk, prisons face unique challenges in that they have not only an obligation to keep the public out of their facilities, but also a moral and ethical obligation to keep prisoners in their facilities. Security measures must be intentional and highly effective in order to prevent substantial threat to the life, health, or wellness of the public. This post discusses critical infrastructure protection plans for prisons and a wide range of solutions that, when used together, can be highly effective in achieving maximum security.
Those organizations that land in critical infrastructure sectors in the United States are those whose incapacitation would lead to catastrophic consequences for the general population. Critical infrastructure examples include prisons as well as healthcare organizations, nuclear power plants, and other industries and organizations.
As the name suggests, critical infrastructure protection refers to the measures an organization takes to protect their organization from attack. In many cases, threats to physical and cyber security come from the outside, but in prisons, threats come from both the inside and the outside. The most effective critical infrastructure plans approach planning from the perspective of an attacker, ensuring every possible point of entry and exit is covered and every possible plan of attack would fail in the environment.
Prisons have an incredible responsibility to keep those who pose a threat both in and out of their walls, making it absolutely crucial that their critical infrastructure protection plans are reviewed often and recommended changes are implemented promptly. Security in prisons requires a multifaceted approach which might include physical security, procedural security, and dynamic security.
You may wonder, "What is procedural security is prisons?" Procedural security refers to the procedures developed to prevent the entry of assailants, the escape of inmates, and internal risks posed by inmates.
Another common question is, "What is dynamic security in prisons?" While physical security often involves fixed structures, dynamic security refers to moving security measures, like patrolling, random searches, camera review, and frequent inspection of physical barriers. Both physical and dynamic security must be incorporated into a prison protection plan.
Kontek industries specializes in the development and implementation of robust critical infrastructure protection plans for prisons and other at-risk organizations. The team at Kontek brings extensive experience in both security and critical infrastructure industries to the table, empowering them to better understand the needs of your organization and more thoroughly identify potential risks and weaknesses. Contact us today to review your critical infrastructure security plan and explore potential improvements. Your life - and the lives of thousands of people around you - depend on it.