ELI5: What is Lighting?
Bad guys like to hide in the dark. Bright lights around a building make it really hard for someone to sneak around without being seen by cameras or guards.
Definition
Lighting is a physical security control that deters unauthorized access, criminal activity, and physical attacks by eliminating the concealment that darkness provides. Adequate lighting around building perimeters, parking areas, entry points, and sensitive areas makes it difficult for intruders to operate undetected. It also dramatically improves the effectiveness of video surveillance (CCTV) by ensuring cameras capture useful images.
Key Details
- Acts as a deterrent—potential intruders avoid well-lit areas where they can be observed.
- Essential for effective CCTV surveillance—cameras without adequate lighting produce poor-quality images.
- Emergency lighting (battery-backed or UPS-powered) ensures critical areas remain illuminated during power failures.
- Motion-activated lighting conserves energy while maintaining deterrence—sudden illumination can alert guards.
- Should be resistant to tampering—lights and their power supply should be difficult to disable covertly.
Connections
- Parent: physical-security — a perimeter physical security control
- See also: video-surveillance-cctv, fencing