Access Control and Identity Management, 3rd Edition

Designing a Comprehensive Plan

Perimeter security is any method that restricts access to a defined area, such as a military base, corporate campus, infrastructure facility, or office building. It is the first layer of defense in a physical security strategy. A backyard fence is a common example of perimeter security. It surrounds an area—a parcel of land that is designated for use by a homeowner—and restricts access to that area. Not only does it keep others out of a homeowner’s yard but it also keeps the homeowner’s pets inside the perimeter. In this way, a fence serves two purposes. It restricts access both to the yard and to the outside world.

Landscape design is an important aspect of perimeter security. From a purely aesthetic point of ...