Physical Security

When Security Managers are building a PPS, target identification provides the basis for the design by focusing on what to protect. Target identification determines areas, assets, or actions to be protected without consideration of its physical protection. In our reading the two techniques discussed are manual listing of targets and use of logic diagrams to identify vital areas. Manually listing targets is exactly what it sounds like: consider theft of local items such as computers, tools, proprietary information, or work-in-process. This technique consists of listing all significant quantities of assets of concern and their locations and Poof: you have the list of the targets to be protected. Logic diagrams represent a methodical, comprehensive way to consider entire systems and components to be protected. These diagrams are useful tools for determining potential theft and sabotage targets for a complex facility.

When the facility is too complex for a

manual identification of targets, a more

rigorous identification technique may be

used. The following sections discuss this

technique in detail. They describe a

methodical, comprehensive way to logically

consider which systems and components

must be protected to prevent an

undesirable result.

Logic Diagrams

The logic diagram is a useful tool for determining

the potential theft and sabotage

targets for a complex facility. One type of

logic diagram, called a fault tree (Fussell,

1976), graphically represents the combinations

of component and subsystem events

that can result in a specified undesired

state. A simple logic diagram for

Target identification

must consider which systems and components

to protect and their interaction with

other support systems.

When the facility is too complex for a

manual identification of targets, a more

rigorous identification technique may be

used.

Target identification is the process of identifying

specific locations, actions, or assets

to be...