Cost effective perimeter security

There are many measures that could be taken to make a perimeter more secure. These measures can be expensive and the benefits they provide may not justify this expense. The primary concern of this work is to make more cost-effective decisions by finding the right balance between security and cost. A computer software package known as CLASP (comparative Layout Analysis for Secure Perimeters) has been developed to support this decision making process. It is based on a mathematical model which evaluates sets of performance measures, including data on costs. The model was initially presented at an earlier conference [C.J. Tarr, Proceeding of the 1992 international Carnahan Conference, p.164]. It has now been operational for about two years. This paper examines the experience of using the package in various operational situations during that period. The advantages and limitations of using the package are discussed in comparison with previous approaches.<>