What can we learn about perimeter security from the Great Wall of China?

Constructed during the days of the Ming dynasty sometime between 1368-1644, the Great Wall of China is one of the most amazing feats of engineering in human history. Stretching thousands of miles from Shanhaiguan to Jiayuguan the wall was built as an attempt to protect China from invaders and to preserve economic and agricultural prosperity. While Mongol hordes are no longer a threat to China, the Great Wall remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world with over 10 million visitors making the trip to see it every year.

So what can we learn from the Great Wall of China? Well first of all it’s important to remember that while the Great Wall is indeed an impressive structure, it wasn’t exactly fool proof. There were in fact quite a few occasions through history where the wall failed.

Mongol raiders climbed treacherous terrain in 1576 to gain entry and kill high ranking soldiers and in 1644 Wu Sangui the defender of one of the passes simply opened the gate to invaders in an act of treachery. What these examples show us are the importance of taking a holistic approach towards your perimeter security. It’s all well and good having a large fence but you also need to look at other areas of your business to ensure that you have every corner covered. It will take a seasoned criminal very little time to overcome the security measures of a business with a one-trick-pony approach to their security measures.

Having a 360 approach doesn’t necessarily have to cost the earth either, it’s just about picking the security solutions that will work best at your premises. A professional company will look at all aspects of your business and only recommend measures that will work. This means taking a full review of your layout, location and operations to understand threats. But it also means learning about the way your business works day-to-day. For instance, some businesses feel that while security is paramount it’s equally important to maintain a welcoming image and to ensure that employees and visitors feel at ease. A comprehensive risk assessment will aim to balance all of these factors and create a strong proposal for keeping your business protected from the growing dangers of crime.

Whether your business runs from small retail premises or a large industrial site, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation risk assessment, feasibility survey and quotation to assess your perimeter security requirements. For more information or for further advice on how to protect your business premises from criminals, please contact us here.