Ballistic barriers, asset protection, barrier protectors, utility protection, critical infrastructure protection. Whatever you want to call it, the CIP-014 standard has taken utility security from a voluntary act for each entity to decide on to a, now, government mandated standard for all investor-owned, independent-owned and public-owned utility agencies.
But what else do you know about ballistic barriers and the government mandate of the CIP-014 standard?
Here are the 5 W’s:
Who
Utility facilities featuring transmission stations, substations and control centers throughout North America.
What
Requires transmission owners to perform risk assessments that identify critical transmission stations and substations, and associated primary control centers. Once identified, owners must evaluate for physical threats, develop and implement a security plan.
When
CIP-014 became effective on January 26th, 2015 but the deadlines for the required goals extend up until August 3rd, 2016.
Where
Throughout the United States and North America.
Why
According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (or NERC), the purpose of this standard is to identify and protect Transmission stations and Transmission substations, and their associated primary control centers, that if rendered inoperable or damaged as a result of a physical attack could result in widespread instability, uncontrolled separation, or Cascading within an Interconnection.
In layman’s terms, this CIP-014 standard provides a structured framework that is to help secure critical electrical power grid junctures from high-level physical threats and vulnerabilities in the present and future. This helps protect one of the largest industrial machines that are vital for both quality of life and the economy in North America.
If the critical assets and infrastructure at your facility are in need of world-class protection from physical threats and vulnerabilities, contact us today at Ideal Utility Services. We not only have top of the line ballistic barriers but they’re also available in custom colors and designs.