Perimeter security must address more than property boundaries and potential intrusion from people. The availability and proliferation of drone technology mean that protection requires multi-layered security approaches that protect a facility from threats via ground, air, and wireless signals. Even with laws and regulations still trying to catch up, your facility security needs to be ready to address drone threats. Here’s why perimeter security needs to include drone detection:

1. Drones are relatively available and accessible.
2. Physical barriers don’t stop drones.
3. Security breaches and cyberattacks don’t require a physical presence on your property.
4. Drone detection technologies and drone defense laws are still evolving.
5. Early detection facilitates proactive response.

1. Drones Are Relatively Available and Accessible

One of the biggest reasons why perimeter security needs to include drone detection is that drones are relatively widely available and accessible. This also means that it’s relatively easy for someone who wants a drone to obtain one, whether their intentions are innocent or not.

This also means that drones pose a threat to your facility. Accidentally flying too close to your facility or poor user control can cause a drone to crash and damage your facility or property. It also makes your facility vulnerable to malicious drone attacks by bad actors.

2. Physical Barriers Don’t Stop Drones

Strong perimeter security technologies and physical barriers go a long way in preventing unauthorized entry and reducing the risk of break-ins. Although they are not completely impenetrable, physical barriers are difficult for people to climb over or get through. However, drones create airborne security gaps, and physical barriers do not stop drones.

If access and surveillance are all that is needed, a drone can fly up and over a barrier and onto your property relatively easily. If it happens to be a drone equipped to carry a payload, whether explosive or something else, the threat can be serious. If your facility does not have any sort of drone protection or defense, security is limited at the ground level.

That is a security risk and is a gap that needs to be addressed. By including drone detection and protection considerations in your perimeter security, you can eliminate the “over-the-fence” blind spot and close the low-altitude airspace security gap.

3. Security Breaches and Cyberattacks Don’t Require a Physical Presence on Your Property

Another one of the reasons why your security needs to include drone detection and defense is that security breaches and cyberattacks do not require a physical presence on your property. Drones can pose a direct physical threat, but they are also not just a physical threat.

Drones or people do not even have to enter your facility or set foot on your property to be a threat. Simply getting close enough to your facility to disrupt your signals or distribute malicious data can be enough to facilitate cyberattacks. A drone piloted by someone with malicious intent that lands on a nearby rooftop can cause a serious incident.

Bad actors can use drones to carry out attacks that result in data being stolen, grids or networks getting compromised, important processes being disrupted, and more. Drones also do not have to actively act as a relay to cause an incident. Surveillance alone is a security threat. Drones equipped with thermal cameras and high-zoom lenses can:

• Steal intellectual property
• Monitor personnel movements
• Map facility layouts
• Locate and track high-value assets

This is another reason why the surrounding area, including buildings with rooftop access, is an important environmental consideration during physical security assessments and should be taken into account for perimeter security and overall facility security.

4. Drone Detection Technologies and Drone Defense Laws Are Still Evolving

Drones, drone detection, the laws around drones, and even laws around drone defense are still evolving. This puts facility managers and integrators in a unique position where, depending on the current law and local regulations, you may be able to detect a drone, but be limited in what actions you can take to defend against one.

Having a good security systems integrator as a partner can help you manage the uncertainty and respond to things as they change and are defined. This is also why approaching security as active infrastructure instead of static is a key operational imperative that facility managers need for better security.

Video surveillance systems, smart security cameras, geo-enabled analytics, integrated sensors, and more are all important components of security and play important roles in drone detection capabilities. Because drones are considered aircraft by the FAA, it is unlawful to intentionally disable them, at least right now.

Until drone defense laws are in place and active defense is permitted, facilities are often limited to strengthening facility security where they can, and only detecting and tracking drones. However, it is still beneficial to have a security solution in place that is capable of drone detection, which also sets up a foundation for counter-drone actions (C-AUS) when the rules change.

Currently, a security solution with drone detection should be able to:

1. Leverage directional antennas and sensors to detect and track drones.
2. Classify the type of drone, including size, manufacturer, and clues about capabilities.
3. Analyze and predict potential trajectory based on location and other cues.
4. Identify the drone’s Remote ID and track it back to the GCS location and MAC address.

5. Early Detection Facilitates Proactive Response

Another one of the reasons why perimeter security needs to include drone detection is that early detection facilitates rapid and proactive response. The earlier your facility’s security systems can detect a drone or potential airborne threats, the faster security teams can respond. And, if the drone is being used to set up a cyberattack or by an operator preparing for a physical breach, security teams can pinpoint their location and stop it.

Improve Your Perimeter Security With NEPPS

These are just a few reasons why perimeter security needs to include drone detection and some considerations around that. Effective facility security relies on a comprehensive, multi-layered, and integrated solution that can support your operations while keeping up with evolving risks. The right mix of security systems and integrations will vary from facility to facility.

Partnering with an experienced security systems integrator can help ensure you have the security solution your facility needs. If you need to expand or upgrade your security, contact Northeast Protection Partners at 1-800-736-1456.