Security, whether you think it’s too much or not enough, is front and center on everyone’s mind these days, and for good reasons. If there's one crucial point to be made about security, it is that it can't be "security-light."

You can't have the illusion of security, as in mounting cameras on your dock that you never turn on or view. Nor can there be just the perception of security, as in hand searching through carryon bags, and removing miniature pocket knives that contain a scissors, nail file and plastic tooth pick (I really hate having to give up such a handy, harmless travel aid!). Systems with the function of security must be real. U.S. airports are a classic example of security illusion and perception versus reality.

If you want to know what real airport security is like – check out how they do it at Ben Gurion Airport (BGA) in Israel. According to Raphael “Rafi” Ron, who served as director of security at BGA for five years, aviation security in the U.S. suffers from two shortcomings that BGA has dealt with and overcome. First, the U.S. has failed in its efforts to develop comprehensive layered security programs that protect airports in their entirety, from perimeter access roads to passenger checkpoints. Second, airport security directors in the U.S. have failed to come to terms with what Ron calls the human factor - the inescapable fact that terrorist attacks are carried out by people who can be found and stopped by an effective security methodology.

Before and after September 11, we had security guards, baggage scanners, locks on doors and hiring procedures. The basic difference between then and now is in the execution of those security elements. Every airport employee no longer knows the one password that opens all doors. There is more than one password now. And background checks are being done on new hires as well as selected passengers.

The new group of TSA guards can and will run down a concourse to chase someone racing through, as was the case at JFK on January 18th of this year. The breach delayed dozens of flights and caused headaches for hundreds of travelers who had to exit the terminal and wait for hours as police swept through the building. The passengers at JFK were then shepherded through additional screening. At that time, this was already the second known security breach at a New York area airport since the start of the New Year (ref. Jan 3. security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport which forced passengers to be rescreened).

How Intrusive Does A Good Security System Have To Be To Be Effective?

Sometimes, good security is no more difficult than actually executing the plan. Maybe that's all that needs to be done; just develop a good plan and actually execute it. Attend to the details! We've been sloppy in the past, taking for granted that we are immune to attack or that a few billion dollars in "shrinkage" is an acceptable loss. Now, a new report from FreightWatch International finds that truck cargo thefts in the US increased substantially in 2009, just as they did in 2008 (see SCDigest article: Cargo Thefts Up Substantially In 2009).

Well, now we know better, but that doesn't mean we need to go overboard to improve security. After the shoe bomber – everyone has to remove their shoes, which are then put through a scanner; and, after the recent Christmas Day underwear bomber – everyone will eventually have to submit to a full body X-Ray scan, and once on the plane, there will be no lavatory privileges the last hour of the flight. Does this really make it safer to fly?

Maybe all we need in airports, at cargo ports, truck stops and freight terminals, in warehouses and DCs is to analyze our vulnerabilities, develop a plan to eliminate or protect those vulnerabilities, and effectively execute that plan. The key word is effectively.

Do We Have to Trade Our Civil Liberties For Security?

The paranoia and fear in our nation today may be creating more security nightmares and difficulties than are necessary. We are already intimidated. When, for example, was the last time you laughed at something someone said to you in the screening line at the airport? More likely you were thinking of not doing anything that might alarm a guard and delay your trip down the concourse. Now, think about this: Did you blink at the loss of that particular civil liberty?

It's an issue you will face when you decide what security devices to include in your plan. Fingerprints, hidden cameras, and X-Ray scanners, for example, are obvious tools that can be abused, perhaps going too far in the name of security.

Perhaps all we need to do for better security is attend to the details of systems already in place. You could argue that that is what airports should have been doing from the time the first plane was hijacked back in the 1960s, but no one took security seriously then. That means making sure you actually have security policies and procedures. Ensure that your employees know what they are. And, make sure your policies are steadfastly and effectively (versus carelessly) implemented.

Then, be realistic about what security measures will and will not do. Installing security systems won't remove all risk. No system can. A police office located in a neighborhood won't stop all crime. A firewall won't prevent computer viruses from getting in. However, security systems can help you investigate breeches and help you reach a successful resolution of them. Crime scene investigators can help catch criminals. Computer and Internet intrusion detection systems can help minimize damage and catch hackers.

Final Thoughts

Security is important and should not be taken lightly. Part of our security problem is that we all have been careless with it. We can no longer avoid the details. Our protection and are peace-of-mind, as well as our civil liberty, is at stake.

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