Target hardening, also referred to simply as hardening when made clear by the context, is a term used by police officers, those working in security, and the

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

referring to the strengthening of the security of a building or installation in order to protect it in the event of attack or reduce the risk of

theft Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for som ...

. It is believed that a "strong, visible defense will deter or delay an attack". In terms of business and

home security Home security includes both the security hardware placed on a property and individuals' personal security practices. Security hardware includes doors, locks, alarm systems, lighting, motion detectors, and security camera systems. Personal se ...

, target hardening is one of the suite of protective measures that are included in

crime prevention through environmental design Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is an agenda for manipulating the built environment to create safer neighborhoods. It originated in America around 1960, when urban renewal strategies were felt to be destroying the social fram ...

. This can include ensuring all doors and windows are sourced and fitted in such a way that they can resist forcible and surreptitious intruder attack, adding hard barriers and landscapes that resist vehicle and pedestrian intrusion, adding fences, walls and hostile planting. All of these are greatly assisted by removing or pruning any

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s or bushes that could offer suitable hiding places or could be used to climb to a higher level of the property. However, for a business, taking target hardening too far can send the wrong message out to potential customers. In military or

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or ...

terms, target hardening refers to ensuring strategic or tactical assets are secured against adversary attack. Other more specific terms associated with target hardening include hostile vehicle mitigation and "blast hardening".Designing Blast Hardened Structures for Military and Civilian Use (abstract)
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Aviation Security in Airport Development Aviation Security in Airport Development (ASIAD) is an anti-terrorism program implemented by the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom to incorporate design elements into airports that will impart resistance to bomb blasts.Department of Transport The Department for Transport (DfT) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved. The d ...

airport anti-terror target-hardening program.

See also

References

Further reading