Securing critical infrastructure presents unique challenges, especially as they are under attack more and more.
According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, critical infrastructure is “the vast network of highways, connecting bridges and tunnels, railways, utilities, and buildings necessary to maintain normalcy in daily life. Transportation, commerce, clean water, and electricity all rely on these vital systems.”
While the agency identifies 16 critical infrastructure sectors in the U.S., it identifies these four as critical to day-to-day operations as well as in Americans’ daily lives:
Attacks on energy installations, specifically electrical grids, are increasing. And while many are privately owned and operated, many more are owned by government entities, making securing these sites everyone’s business. Company and government leaders must consider this security carefully because when attacks happen, not only do they cause wide scale damage and disruption, but they also can put people’s lives at risk.
There were 95 human-caused incidents, including vandalism and cyberattacks, that targeted our nation’s electricity sector in the first half of 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. These increasing attacks, more prevalent now than when the department first began tracking them in 2020, have raised a sense of urgency for federal, state, and municipal lawmakers and officials to guard the grid.
When cities, and in some cases entire counties, go dark, not only are taxpayers on the hook for a costly repair bill, but every resident also loses internet, refrigeration, and access to their quality of life. Plots against power infrastructure and electric substations have affected locations nationwide, including in:
The stakes are high and the country needs comprehensive, collaborative, and coordinated approaches to safeguarding our critical infrastructure, with leaders in both private enterprise and public sectors working cooperatively.
Not only do these sites need to employ traditional security measures, like gates and armed guards, supplemented by local police patrols, but experts also suggest running risk assessments to identify weaknesses in security. Recommendations to implement layered security protocols, using multifaceted technologies, can include:
With the increasing threats of physical attacks and unauthorized access, energy facilities must implement advanced surveillance systems. While defense requirements are quite broad, utility leaders who invest their physical security budget with LVT can be sure they’re meeting the critical demand for a cost-effective solution that delivers results.
LVT offers state-of-the-art surveillance solutions that can help secure energy assets effectively. Its systems use cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to enhance physical security measures to monitor energy facilities in real-time, detect intruders, and respond to threats promptly.
Mobile surveillance LVT Units, backed by its proprietary LVT Platform, also provide:
The mobile security systems are proactive, complete with integrated layers of video surveillance capabilities including 360-degree remote monitoring and robust video analytics. LVT Units include motion sensors, lights, thermal imaging, and alarm systems, which:
LiveView Technologies’ enterprise security camera systems play a vital role in securing critical infrastructure, from Snohomish County, Washington to the islands and people that Hawaiian Electric serves.
Ready to learn why our customers trust LVT to protect critical infrastructure? Contact our team today for a demo.