Borough of Hamburg, New Jersey
April 23, 2024In 2023, iParametrics was awarded a contract by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to complete a security study and gap analysis of the NIEHS/ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) campus perimeter and NIEHS zone-specific security to identify courses of action to create efficiencies and reduce security vulnerabilities. The primary objective of the project focused on how to secure the campus with consistent security measures, while also recommending methods for increasing security between the separate NIEHS and EPA zones.
SITUATION
The NIEHS is a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), focusing on conducting scientific research to understand the effects of the environment on human health. The NIEHS resides on a 500+ acre campus with the EPA. The campus was modeled after a university-style campus and includes walking paths, a large lake, and extensive landscaping surrounding the NIEHS/EPAs facilities. The facilities include administrative and operations buildings, research laboratories, supporting infrastructure, logistics warehouses, parking areas, and a childcare facility.
Securing campus environments requires balancing open, accessible spaces that promote access across multiple facilities with the need to protect faculty, staff, and visitors from the myriad of threats across a wide landscape. As a federal campus, consistent security measures are required across the campus-wide perimeter. Specific security for the two agencies and the separate zones that they occupy must also be included.
TASK
iParametrics performed the security gap analysis study according to the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Risk Management Process (RMP), NIH policy, other federal guidelines, and industry best practices. Our team developed the gap analysis through the determination of facility security levels and baseline level of protection requirements, identification and assessment of risk, determination of necessary levels of protection, evaluation of the existing security and determination of level of protection gaps, and development of recommendations.
Recommended courses of action to create efficiencies and mitigate vulnerabilities were categorized into procedural, personnel, technological, and structural measures. Our analysis included how electronic security systems could be optimized or increased to assist in perimeter security, options for integrating technology into current security practices, and considerations for the application of security while avoiding disruption of wildlife and the scenic nature of the campus.
ACTION
iParametrics performed a combination of remote and onsite assessments, including interviews with the NIEHS/EPA Security and Operations Branch, Office of Research Facilities personnel, and security staff. To meet the NIEHS objective to avoid disruption to the environment, we applied a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach in evaluating the campus-wide and zone perimeters. We performed the risk assessment through a Design Basis Threat approach combining the ISC RMP and a localized threat assessment to characterize the necessary level of protection requirements. We completed an assessment of site conditions to determine vulnerabilities and complete the gap analysis. Recommendations to overcome gaps included considerations for achievable levels of protection and specific examples of technologies for optimizing and enhancing the existing security posture, including rough magnitude costs for implementation and return on security investment. The project culminated with an executive presentation to NIH and NIEHS staff and stakeholders.
RESULT
iParametrics provided NIEHS with a detailed gap analysis report containing the comprehensive evaluation of the campus and zone perimeter security and an analysis of courses of action to create and improve security. We provided the client with a detailed understanding of the security risks to the NIEHS/EPA campus perimeter and the NIEHS zone security, a comprehensive understanding of gaps according to federal guidelines and best practices, and recommendations for courses of action to improve security. The project required an aggressive completion schedule framed by the customer’s requirements. There was a large number of stakeholders across the two agencies along with plenty of complexity in integrating a campus-wide perimeter with two separate interior zones. To combat these factors, the collaboration and engagement with federal agency leaders, security staff, and contracted security personnel was thoroughly managed throughout the project. The 90-day project was completed nine days ahead of schedule and on budget.