The debate goes on. A simple yes or no answer does not suffice when discussing this complex topic. The irony is that $24 million will come nowhere close to covering the amount needed to secure the nation’s infrastructure.
The United States policy is basically divided into two categories: the war on terrorism and homeland security. In order to make our country safer, President Bush, and those who agree with him, feel it is necessary to conduct a global war on terrorism. While I do not wish to take political sides, you cannot argue that instead of spending the necessary funding for airline security, port security, mass transportation, local response and other internal security components, billions is being spent on the war in Iraq.
Since 9/11, a voluntary security strategy has been in place on the homeland security front. Some 85 percent of the critical infrastructure in the United States is privately owned. The debate over who should pay for infrastructure security—government or industry—has been in question, but instead of waiting for mandated security funding, the private sector is setting its own safety standards to address vulnerability concerns.
Critical infrastructure security grants are not coming down the pipeline any time quickly. Yet business and industry today seem to better understand their own vulnerabilities. No terrorists have successfully executed a major attack on American soil since 9-11; and, as Chris Wetzel, founder and Chief Operating Officer at InterTECH Security says in his article, “Video Trends,” appearing this month in the accompanying supplement, Video Surveillance 2006, the evolution of the security industry owes more to the Internet boom than to 9/11.
The progress the nation has made in regard to security is an internal concern. Nervous business owners see a need to install new security or add to what they already have. Plus, thanks to the Internet, nearly every commercial building in the country is wired with an IP network, making more functionality a reality.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Security market is large and growing every year, reports Jerry Blackman, Honeywell Global Director—Industrial Security Solutions, in his conversation with Security Dealer’s Technical Editor, Tim O’Leary. It is an emerging market, he says. By integrating certain security information into the process system, you are able to maintain profitable operation in a safe manner, even if a security threat to the facility exists.
Securing the homeland is a massive task. While there is much more to accomplish, progress is being made. Most important, government, the private sector and the public need to remain committed to developing strong policies for security in the future.
Susan A. Brady
Editor In Chief
