The Best Time to Solve a SCIF Problem Is Before It Exists

This is Part 4 of Building a SCIF That Performs, a six-part series by Danny Heck, Technical Director, Secure Solutions at SPG, Inc., on the difference between completing a SCIF and delivering one that performs as intended.

The best time to solve a SCIF problem is before it exists.

Many of the most expensive problems in secure construction are not caused by one major failure. They usually start with small decisions.

• A penetration that wasn't coordinated early.

• A substitution that appeared equivalent.

• A field condition that forced a change.

• A detail that worked architecturally but created a conflict somewhere else.

• A maintenance requirement that wasn't considered until access became difficult.

Individually, these decisions may not seem significant. But on a secure facility, small decisions can affect the performance of the entire system.

That is why experienced secure-construction teams should be asking questions early:

• How does this affect the secure perimeter?

• Does this change affect another security requirement?

• Has the substitution been evaluated beyond normal commercial equivalency?

• Will the installation remain accessible for inspection and maintenance?

• How will we eventually verify that the completed system performs as intended?

And perhaps most importantly:

Has the appropriate security authority reviewed and accepted the approach?

Experience is extremely valuable on these projects, but experience does not replace authority. Contractors, consultants, designers, manufacturers, and subject-matter experts can provide recommendations based on what we have seen work, and what we have seen fail. But the Authorizing Official (AO) and Certified TEMPEST Technical Authority (CTTA), as applicable, remain the final authorities regarding project-specific security and TEMPEST requirements.

Knowing the difference between providing expertise and having approval authority matters.

When those conversations happen early, problems can often be resolved while they are still lines on a drawing or discussions around a conference table. When they happen late, those same problems may involve demolition, rework, schedule impacts, and additional cost.

Good secure construction isn't just about solving problems. It's about preventing as many of them as possible.

And prevention often starts by changing one fundamental question. Instead of beginning with “How do we build this?” maybe we should begin somewhere else.

Previous in the series: Part 3 — Compliance Is Important. Performance Is the Goal.

Next in the series: Part 5 — Build With the End in Mind

About the author: Danny Heck is the Technical Director for Secure Solutions at SPG, Inc., a veteran-owned firm that works across the full life of secure facilities design, preconstruction, construction, testing, and accreditation and teaches the standards behind that work.

Planning a secure facility? The best time to bring experienced secure-facility professionals into the conversation is early while the problems are still lines on a drawing. Contact SPG, Inc.

Building the expertise in-house? SPG, Inc. teaches courses on TEMPEST shielding and ICD 705. See available courses.

More lessons from the field: follow Danny Heck on LinkedIn.