BKEFPHSC.RVW   20020503

"Effective Physical Security", Lawrence J. Fennelly, 1997,
0-7506-9873-X, U$44.99
%A   Lawrence J. Fennelly
%C   225 Wildwood Street, Woburn, MA  01801
%D   1997
%G   0-7506-9873-X
%I   Butterworth-Heinemann/CRC Press/Digital Press
%O   U$44.99 1-800-366-BOOK
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/075069873X/robsladesinterne
%P   289 p.
%T   "Effective Physical Security, Second Edition"

Physical security tends to be an isolated, arcane, and misunderstood
field: the general public tends to see it as inconvenient and
unnecessary, and the practitioners tend to learn it by (often
difficult) experience.  This book has a number of gaps in coverage,
but provides useful guidance in a number of areas.

Part one is involved with design.  Chapter one starts by suggesting
that security be first considered at the initial architecting stage,
and then goes on to provide a number of checklists of points to
consider.  The lists are good, and fairly comprehensive, but terse,
and without much explanation.  One item, for example, notes "[l]ines
of vision," without going into details about considerations for sight
lines from guard positions over entrances and driveways, from the
street into and around buildings, and for the occupants to the
entrances and surrounding area.  Chapter two discusses security
surveys and risk analysis.  The main body has explanatory material
(including pointers on how to write and present such an assessment)
and is backed up by appendices detailing questions and elements for
different types of studies.  Extensive detail on environmental
(exterior) design, including landscaping and parking, is provided in
chapter three.  A more conceptual overall review of physical security
is given in chapter four.

Part two deals with equipment.  Chapter five explains considerations
for physical barriers such as doors, roofs, and fences.  The coverage
of locks is possibly more than anyone except a locksmith might want,
but chapter six does outline a number of considerations that would be
important, even for non-specialists.  Vaults and safes are discussed
in chapter seven.  Chapter eight's material on lights and lighting is
somewhat more generic, but still useful.  Intrusion sensors and alarms
are covered in chapter nine.  Provision for, and the requirements of,
closed circuit television (CCTV) is explained briefly in chapter ten. 
Chapter eleven is a very short look at wiretapping.  Physical access
to computer systems gets chapter twelve all to itself.  Chapter
thirteen reviews electronic access control systems, and the need for
integration and management.

Part three discusses operations.  Chapter fourteen takes a rather
optimistic view of the capabilities and responsibilities of security
guards (and is also the only chapter to mention fire and safety
considerations).  Bomb incident handling is outlined in chapter
fifteen.  Chapter sixteen, on public relations and the media, also
contains discussion of how to promote security awareness within your
own organization.

While missing some areas of physical security, such as fire, safety,
and disaster response, this is an extremely informative and useful
guide.  It is concise, readable, and reliable.  I recommend this book
to managers of physical plant, security guard firms (often asked for
security assessments and resources), and information security
professionals (who generally lack experience and knowledge of the
physical aspects of their field).

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2002   BKEFPHSC.RVW   20020503