Perimeter Security

Perimeter security refers to protecting physical, informational and human assets from intruders within a boundary or perimeter. Typical examples are military bases, industrial sites, and electrical power stations. Traditional solutions for perimeter security rely upon deploying human guards, fences, gates, alarm systems and other security elements. To provide broader coverage with less manpower, video surveillance cameras have become more and more popular. Deploying a comprehensive solution requires setting up a network of alarm sensors, cameras, voice communications and a centralized or distributed monitoring station. Although wired solutions are still considered the most reliable, the desire for wireless solutions with equivalent performance and reliability has grown over the years. Wired solutions, although reliable, have some inherent limitations. Adding or removing a node is not easy, troubleshooting faults is difficult, and repairs can be costly. Building a wired network at remote sites requires laying down new cables and maintaining them which can be very cumbersome. Wireless networks on the other hand are easy to deploy and grow. Faulty units can be easily replaced and repaired offline, and wireless products are ideal for deployment at remote locations. They can also be used in conjunction with wired networks to enhance reliability and extend coverage. 

Technical Requirements

Building a perimeter security network is not very different from other communications networks. A perimeter security network needs to support the following requirements:

• Ability to connect the various network devices to a single network, so the information can be shared among multiple monitoring stations
• Ability to support multiple traffic types, such as voice, video, and data simultaneously
• Ability to stream high bandwidth applications, such as multiple video streams
• Ability to authenticate and authorize access to the network and maintain data confidentiality so it cannot be tapped or subjected to man-in-the-middle attacks
• Ability to add or remove network nodes without disruption to other nodes
• Ability to monitor the performance, identify threats to the network, and dissociate nodes that may have been compromised

Technologies for Perimeter Security

Technology innovations in perimeter security solutions focus upon (a) intrusion detection systems, (b) the alarm processor, (c) the intrusion/alarm monitoring station, and (d) the communications infrastructure. The focus of this document is on the communications infrastructure. Communication from sensors to the centralized computer is typically done via RS-485/RS-232 serial interfaces, FSK (Frequency Shift Keying), DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signaling, or some proprietary protocols. Video feeds and video motion detectors are typically implemented using optical fibers; however, laying down fiber and establishing a network is not easy. Use of Wireless LAN technology has increased, but there is still room for improvement with increased performance and higher throughput. It is important for WLAN solutions to meet the performance needs in a consistent and reliable manner and to address all the needs described in the previous sections.

Perimeter Security Solutions by Fortress

Fortress Technologies is the leading supplier of outdoor Wi-Fi solutions to the US Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, US Coast Guard and other government organizations. Some of the perimeter security solutions that use Fortress equipment are:

• Fort Leavenworth Integrated Base Operations Center
• Alaskan Command (ALCOM) Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) Transportable Project
• US Army's Combat Service Support Automated Information System Interface (CAISI) 

Fortress Solution Differentiators

Fortress Technologies has worked closely with many military and government organizations to understand their needs and has developed a solution that delivers superior performance at a reasonable cost. Some of the key features of the Fortress products that set them apart as the solution of choice for outdoor network extensions are:

• Ruggedized to IP67 with MIL-STD-810G certification
• Optimal Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) with flexible mounting options
• Flexible DC and PoE power options
• Standard, interoperable security with FIPS-140-2 accreditation and Suite B encryption support
• Best RF performance in the industry with high throughput at a range of up to 32 miles
• Unmatched crypto-performance with hardware encryption and TRNG (true random number generation).
• Dual and quad-radio units to meet the need for simultaneous wireless access and backhaul
• Support for 802.11 a/b/g/n with DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection)
• Remote management capability with integration into Falcon View and Google Earth.

Fortress ES520 Deployable Mesh Point

The Fortress ES520 Mesh Point is designed for rapidly deployable networks. It is a highly versatile unit with dual radios and a built-in 8-port Ethernet switch. It is ruggedized for dependable performance under harsh outdoor environments including desert, tropical and maritime environments (MIL-STD-810G, IP65, NEMA-4X, ICC/ENX). 

Product specifications and certifications