Early Warning Systems: Protecting Critical Infrastructure Before the Perimeter Is Breached

Utility perimeter security is evolving beyond fences, fixed cameras, and access controls. As substations and other distributed assets face growing risks from vandalism, unauthorized access, copper theft, and targeted disruption, critical infrastructure security increasingly depends on detecting and assessing suspicious activity before it reaches the perimeter. 

This white paper, Early Warning Systems: Protecting Critical Infrastructure Before the Perimeter Is Breached, examines how early warning security systems can extend situational awareness beyond the fence line by combining security radar, edge-AI video analytics, PTZ cameras, and existing security infrastructure for a layered approach. This can detect activity across wide outdoor areas, automatically cue cameras for visual verification, and help distinguish routine movement from events that require attention. It also addresses the role of edge-based processing and tunable detection in reducing nuisance alarms, as well as practical considerations for integrating radar, video, access control, and VMS platforms into a coordinated detection-and-response workflow.

Download this white paper on perimeter security today to explore a more proactive approach to substation security and the protection of critical infrastructure.