Manufacturing Plant Security

Manufacturing plants face unique security challenges. Security measures that work for special events or movie sets, for example, are not necessarily adequate to protect a plant.

Threats to manufacturing facilities can range from trespassing and vandalism to cybersecurity attacks. That’s why every manufacturing facility should not only install a robust security system, but also a plan of action that can guarantee the most efficient — and timely — response.

If you manage a plant, security is already top of mind. This should be the case whether you operate a small-scale plant or a larger facility that generates millions of products every year.

Keep reading to learn how you can protect your plant and manufacturing operations against the most common security risks. We’ll also share some tips that can make it easier to set up a proper system that meets your plant’s security needs.

Manufacturing Plant Security: Understanding the Risks

Manufacturing facilities contain critical infrastructure. If so much as a single security threat goes unaddressed, the impact to the company, the plant’s employees, and even the global supply chain could be enormous.

Staff could also be exposed to a variety of health and safety risks. For example, the harm that may come from using heavy machinery or working with combustible materials.

There are also physical risks to property, such as theft. Physical security measures are necessary to prevent the theft of machinery, equipment, tools, and raw materials.

Industrial plants should take measures to prevent the theft of information and intellectual property, as well. A security breach could give criminals unauthorized access to employee and customer information, company financial records, trade secrets, or proprietary product information.

Fortunately, there are tried and true safety measures that can minimize the security risks to your plant. By rolling out the right security solutions, plant managers can keep their facilities safe while increasing its productivity.

Plant Security Requires Layered Security Measures

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is an operational component of the Department of Homeland Security. Their guidelines state that for security systems to be effective, they must be able to detect, respond to, and delay threats. (You can read the entire 50-page publication here.)

At the core of these guidelines is the need to layer security measures. In other words, stacking physical security measures with procedural measures and operational practices.

Layered security systems are complex. They can include anything from video surveillance to physical security guards that can act as crime deterrents.

Let’s take a deeper look at how you can establish a layered security strategy for your plant.

Control Access

The first step in every manufacturing plant security plan should be to prevent unauthorized access.

Just like you lock your doors and windows at home, you must take steps to prevent unwanted visitors (or criminals) from accessing the facility.

To control access, you should:

• Install the proper locks and gates
• Provide employees with key cards and access codes

Keep in mind that only authorized personnel should have access. Some employees may not need to access specific sectors of the plant, and should only be given access to limited areas.

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Set Up Security Cameras

Visible security cameras are excellent deterrents against trespassing, vandalism, and theft.

But cameras can do more than protect your plant from external threats to its security. They’re also one of the best ways to monitor employee activity.

No matter how much you vet your employees or think you know your staff, there is always a chance that an employee could become a security threat within your plant.

Things to Keep in Mind When Setting Up Video Surveillance Cameras

For security cameras to be effective, they must be placed in the right positions. They also require effective monitoring. Here’s how to do it:

Install External Cameras

Every entry and exit point should be under video surveillance.

Position them at every door, window, and other point of entry to the plant. You should also install cameras at entrance points to the perimeter gates.

Install Internal Cameras

Place cameras inside the facility to monitor for suspicious activity. If a security threat manages to slip past the outdoor cameras and security checkpoints, internal cameras can still capture footage of them once inside.

Suspicious activity may include criminal activity from employees who have authorized access or entered an area in which they are unauthorized to be.

Install Cameras in All Areas of Restricted Access

Any space inside or outside the plant, where access is limited or restricted, needs surveillance cameras. This includes loading zones, rooftops, and high-voltage areas.

Integrate Cameras with Your Access Control System

Connect your access control system with video surveillance technology to maximize the quality of your security system as a whole.

Connecting door and fire alarm sensors to your video surveillance system makes it easier to identify the source of a threat. This can improve response times while making it possible to contain a threat in one place. Fire watch security professionals can also offer some suggestions.

Set Up a Remote Monitoring System

Set up surveillance cameras that can be watched via a remote monitoring system. With a 24/7 monitoring center keeping an eye on your manufacturing plant, your security team can assess situations in real time and prevent problems before they occur.

A remote monitoring system allows you to take a proactive, rather than reactive approach. Reviewing surveillance footage after a security breach can help you identify who is responsible for the breach, but real-time monitoring makes it easier to prevent in the first place.

Install Thermal Cameras

Thermal cameras (also known as infrared cameras) are a great way to monitor the plant at night.

In low-light areas, it can be difficult to see clear images. Thermal cameras use infrared wavelengths and measure thermal signatures, providing clearer images, even when the area under surveillance is dark.

Put Procedural Security Measures in Place

To keep the security of your facility strong, establish best practices for how manufacturing processes are performed.

Security and safety go hand in hand, so it’s important to adhere to OSHA safety standards at all times. Provide employees with the proper training to keep them, and the plant, as safe as possible.

Protect Against Cybersecurity Threats

No matter how secure you think your facility is, there is always the potential for a cybersecurity attack. Cyber criminals can remotely hack alarm systems, open smart doors with digital locks, and interfere with surveillance systems, so it’s vital to stay several steps ahead of them.

Cyber theft is a key security concern for many manufacturing plants and industrial facilities, and it cannot be ignored. The IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023 goes into greater detail about the significance of this threat.

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4 Reasons to Hire a Private Service for Manufacturing Security

While some companies in the manufacturing sector have security officers on their full-time staff, there are many reasons why it’s better to hire a private, external security service instead.

Here are the key reasons why so many plants hire private security professionals — and why you should, too.

Risk Assessment

When you hire a private security company, the first thing they will do is conduct a complete risk assessment. The purpose of the risk assessment is to identify any and all potential risks and vulnerabilities.

They will map the entire plant from inside to out, creating a comprehensive security plan that will safeguard your facility.

Your facility may have external doors that need better alarm systems, vulnerable points of entry, or sectors that are hidden from the watchful eye of security cameras. The security company will take the necessary steps to improve security where it’s needed most.

Emergency Response Plans

Security teams are also skilled at creating emergency response plans. Once they create the plan, they’ll train employees on how to follow through.

Training your employees in emergency response should be a requirement, not an option. Everyone on site must know the plan in order to improve the response time to potential threats.

Penetration Tests

A private security company will also run periodic penetration tests. This is the best way to ensure that the safety measures are working as they should. If a penetration test identifies a weakness in your security plan, your security personnel will make the necessary improvements.

Physical Protection

Security companies do more than provide internal and external security solutions. They also staff your facility with the visible presence of guards.

Physical guards are some of the best crime deterrents you can have. Most criminals look for opportunities, which means that manufacturing plants without guards are the most vulnerable to opportunistic crimes.

A layered security system is essential to protect your manufacturing plant from potential threats. Hiring a professional security company is the best way to do so.

From perimeter gates and internal doors to data stored on your servers, every aspect of your plant deserves protection. To learn more about manufacturing plant security or to hire a private security team in California, contact Security Explorer now.

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